Jane Sandell departs as CEO of UK Fisheries Ltd after decade and will be replaced by Rebecca Bennett, a director of Lockers Trawlers Ltd
UK Fisheries has announced that Rebecca Bennett will take over as General Manager following the departure of long-serving CEO Jane Sandell, marking a major leadership shift amid ongoing struggles with quota reductions and fleet downsizing.
Bennett, currently a director at Lockers Trawlers Ltd., has been closely involved with UK Fisheries since the formation of their joint venture in early 2023. With significant experience in North Sea operations, she steps into her new role at a moment of profound challenge for the company, which operates Britain’s last remaining distant waters trawler, Kirkella, from Hull.
Outgoing CEO Jane Sandell, who has led the company for the past decade, reflected on her tenure with both pride and concern. “It’s been a pleasure to lead this wonderful team over the past ten years. The crews and their land-based colleagues are a truly exceptional group of people, and I wish them all every success in navigating UK Fisheries in what is currently a very challenging environment for this sector of the industry. This has been an exceptional experience,” Sandell said.
Sandell’s departure comes as the company reels from drastic quota losses in the Barents Sea, where its catch allowance has plummeted from 13,000 tonnes in 2019 to just 4,075 tonnes in 2025. These cuts have forced UK Fisheries to downsize its fleet, reducing from three vessels to one.
Bennett will be supported by shareholder representatives Baldvin Thorsteinsson and Diek Parleviet, whose partnership owns UK Fisheries. Thorsteinsson praised Sandell’s leadership, stating, “We’d like to thank Jane for her resourceful and committed service over the past ten years, and we wish her every success for the future. Her passion for the industry has been an asset to the organisation.”
Bennett, aware of the uphill battle ahead, voiced cautious optimism: “Our company has been hit hard by the poor outcomes of recent fisheries negotiations, and while we’ve fought hard to stay afloat through cost-cutting, economies of scale and our joint venture, we need much more in the next round to rebuild our business. Our crews and the people of this proud region deserve better.”
Industry eyes will now turn to Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner, with hopes pinned on his ability to recover some of the lost quota allocations in upcoming negotiations — a crucial factor for the future of the company and the livelihoods tied to it.
Source: UK Fisheries Ltd