Seafarers' fishy tales are sought

The contest is open to deep sea anglers and professional fishermen

A Cornish seal sanctuary has appealed for stories from fishermen about strange and unusual happenings at sea.

The National Seal Sanctuary in Gweek is offering £150 for the best story.

The centre last held a story contest 10 years ago, when the winning tale was about an exhausted peregrine falcon found in the North Sea.

"Some of the stories it generated last time were amazing," said the sanctuary's Rachael Vine. "We think it's high time to collect some more."

'Witness testimony'

"We're hoping to hear about any out of the ordinary events that may have befallen fishermen out at sea," she said.

The stories must be true and may require witness testimony or some other form of proof.

The best tale will then be judged against the winning stories submitted to nine other UK sea life attractions for a special national award of £500.

The last contest also produced accounts of an encounter with a large stag swimming far out at sea and the story of an angry wolf-fish biting right through a thick Wellington boot and almost removing a big toe.

The closing date for entries for the contest, which is open to deep sea anglers as well as professional fishermen, is 31 March 2008.