Yachting Art Magazine

The first professional fishing boat to be certified in France, the Skravik has begun its season at sea after a challenging administrative process. This recycled catamaran, owned by a collective interest cooperative, embodies an innovative project that combines small-scale fishing, respect for the environment and social ambition.

Since spring 2025, the Skravik has been sailing the waters off Brest (France - Brittany). This sailing boat, which was once a pleasure craft, has been converted to meet the needs of fishing that is more respectful of marine resources. On board, Tangi Le Bot and Fram, the two sailors involved in this adventure, are testing various methods of catching mackerel and other species without relying on diesel fuel.

For Tangi Le Bot, this approach is part of a process that began in his childhood. Having discovered sailing on a small dinghy named after a seabird, he dreamed of one day sailing a boat with a greater purpose. This dream took shape after his studies in marine biology and his first voyages on scientific missions. The idea then took root: to combine fishing and wind propulsion to limit costs and environmental impact.

Before setting sail, the Skravik had to overcome a series of regulatory hurdles. The regulations governing commercial fishing are designed for motor-powered vessels, which required lengthy negotiations with the Maritime Affairs Department and the Finistère Fisheries Committee. For three years, the cooperative took numerous steps to obtain a special exemption for this unusual prototype.

The project is supported by a collective interest cooperative, which now has 115 members. These stakeholders, who come from a variety of backgrounds, meet regularly to define the future direction of the initiative.

Among their ambitions is to replicate the Skravik model along the entire French coastline. Some are already imagining fishing boats supplying school canteens with local and sustainable produce.

The first few trips have allowed the crew to test the concept. The catch is sold directly from the catamaran, moored in the small port of Tinduff. This short supply chain, considered essential by the founders, ensures that the catch is sold at a higher price. ‘We don't need to fish in large quantities. The main thing is to be able to offer a product at a fixed price, which allows us to find the right balance,’ emphasises Tangi Le Bot.

The Skravik, whose name means ‘tern’ in Breton, symbolises an agile seabird, chosen to embody the philosophy of the project. Following in the wake of this first vessel, a second catamaran named Morskoul – meaning ‘gannet’ – has joined the cooperative's fleet. This slightly larger boat will be used this summer for a cetacean observation mission in collaboration with the University of La Rochelle.

The initiative goes beyond the strict framework of fishing. The Skravik also aims to contribute to raising awareness of marine issues. Training courses are offered by the cooperative and scientific collaborations are being developed. This educational component aims to anchor the project in a broader dynamic of marine conservation and local development.

Finally, behind the image of this catamaran carried by the winds lies a desire to radically rethink the economic model of small-scale fishing. ‘Without fuel to pay for or consume, we can envisage a more selective and sustainable activity,’ sums up Tangi Le Bot. For this sailor and his crew, it is above all a question of opening up a new path that could well inspire other French ports.