In the busy Devon port of Brixham, fishing is a way of life for many. However, due to long hours at sea, high levels of sun exposure, and limited access to dermatological care, local fishermen find themselves at significantly increased risk of developing skin cancer. That’s why the Seafarer’s Hospital Society are delighted to announce the launch of ‘Spot Check’, a pioneering skin cancer screening and dermatological health awareness project.
Partnering with Compass House Medical Centres, this innovative £5,000 pilot project will be delivered by qualified GPs and clinicians via a series of 3-hour clinics across 2026, providing the local fishing community with professional mole and lesion checks, and onward referrals where suspicious findings are identified.
Alongside screening, the clinics aim to educate the local fishing community on proper sun safety, skin protection, and self-examination techniques, with the goal of reducing late-stage skin cancer diagnoses, promoting earlier intervention, and empowering the fishing community to take proactive steps in protecting their skin’s health.
By detecting potentially malignant skin lesions early, it is hoped we can enable timely and effective referrals to dermatology or oncology services. The project seeks to raise awareness of skin cancer within the local fishing community, including their various risk factors and the protective behaviours they can adopt, such as self-monitoring practices and proper sun safety, and empower them to seek help promptly if concerns arise.
Compass House GP Dr James Gunning said, “If you make your living on the water, your skin works as hard as you do. Sun and constant exposure to the elements put fishermen at higher risk of skin cancer, but catching changes early, makes treatment more effective and far less disruptive to your life at sea.
He added, “A quick mole check could provide peace of mind, or if a referral is made, a quick path to specialist care. Drop in, get checked, and protect your health — spotting a problem early is far better than missing it!”
Each clinic will be held at the Brixham Trawler Agents’ Office in Brixham Harbour, following the success of the ongoing Fishing for Better Health clinics that are regularly held at the same location. Fishermen will be offered a 10–15-minute mole and skin check carried out by a clinician, with any suspicious lesions being documented and referred into NHS pathways.
This project offers an opportunity to address a clear health inequality within Brixham’s fishing community by delivering proactive, accessible, and targeted support. The clinic also hopes to build meaningful relationships and improve engagement between local primary care and dermatology services.
Brixham is a close-knit community, and it is our hope that by raising awareness among fishermen, important health messages will naturally spread within families and across the wider community, multiplying the impact of the clinic and contributing to improved public health outcomes.
Current Dates below, all 9am-12pm unless stated.
• 26th February
• 23rd April
• 25th June
• 10th September
• 12th November