Mike started his career at the age of sixteen in the commercial fishing sector. By the age of twenty one he was in command of his first jointly owned 24 metre seine net vessel. At the age of twenty five he commissioned a new build. He had a successful career as a commercial fishermen before stepping onshore to head one of the biggest fishermen's associations in Europe. Mike received a special award in 2012 from WWF who recognised his commitment to rebuilding the North Sea Cod stock and in 2018 he was awarded the Officer of the British Empire medal (OBE) from then Prince Charles for his commitment to the marine environment. Mike continues with a commitment to that marine ecosystem and has since become involved in a number of associated issues such as worker driven social responsibility and now heads up, on behalf of his association, the largest fishing crew recruitment agency in the UK.
