Jenny Wittamore, postgraduate researcher, CDT SuMMeR: Cohort 2

After completing a BA in Ancient History and Archaeology at Exeter University, and embarking on an MA in Museum Studies, I became a curator at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

I spent 11 years at the museum, managing and interpreting the collections including small boats, Cornish maritime objects and archives.

In 2022 I moved into a research position with the SMMR ROCC project, using oral histories and archives to gain historical insights into the resilience of coastal communities. 

My career to date has centred around exploring the space where people met the sea in the past, through the development of collections and narratives based on the study of material and cultural heritage. This has often involved the study of small vessels of varied types, and the material culture and heritage of small coastal communities. 

In a rapidly changing world, particularly in the light of regulatory, economic, environmental and generational pressures, the cultural heritage of UK marine fisheries is at risk of diminishing. The cultural and material heritage of the fishing industry, however, is rich and diverse, ranging from boats, gear and buildings to ecological knowledge, practices and memory.

This project aims to pinpoint areas in which we might learn from the cultural legacy of small scale fisheries to help drive a more sustainable future. What can we learn from the past to help support a more sustainable future in fisheries management?

The project will take a case study approach using complementary research methods from across historical, archaeological and ethnographic disciplines. An investigation of the cultural heritage of geographically diverse case study sites will explore why and how practices have changed over time and assess the benefit those practices brought to areas such as community, individuals, economy and environment.

Working with Historic England, the project will produce outputs to support stakeholders in taking a more integrated approach to incorporating fishing heritage into decision making.

There were a number of reasons why I applied for the project. First, it gives me an opportunity to explore the idea of heritage mobilisation, tying together many of the areas that I have explored in the past – archaeology, heritage practice, maritime history and cultural heritage – in a new and interesting way.

Secondly, it allows me to explore multiple disciplines, bringing in perspectives that I may not have considered in the past. 

The opportunity to develop impactful outputs to support stakeholders is the icing on the cake!