The big UK presence at Seagood Expo Global in Barcelona last week included delegations led by Seafish and Seafood Scotland, a large pavilion, and chefs preparing a variety of quality seafoods for a constant stream of interested buyers.
The UK delegation included working fishermen and processors, who were able to explain to potential buyers the huge efforts made from sea to plate to maximise quality and also, increasingly, to demonstrate the sustainability and traceability of the catch.
Ian Wightman, one of several Nephrops fishermen on hand to talk to buyers, said: “It’s humbling when you come to a show of this size and magnitude to see literally thousands of people who are entirely dependent on wild- capture fishermen like myself to supply the produce for their businesses.”
Mairi Gougeon said: “I welcome the launch of the Scottish Quality Langoustine label. This standard will be the first of its kind in this sector, and it will help ensure that Scotland retains its rightful reputation for the highest-quality langoustines – maintaining this provenance will be key both at home and as we look to secure new markets for Scottish langoustine.”
The Scottish delegation was also promoting the newly formed Scottish Ocean Cluster and its aim of trebling the value of byproducts developed from processed fish and shellfish, much of which currently goes to fishmeal production.
Sixty cross-sector organisations have pledged support for the initiative, which aims to move towards 100% utilisation of fish landed into the UK.
“The Scottish Ocean Cluster exemplifies industry collaboration, and the forward-thinking mindset needed to propel our sector into a more sustainable and prosperous future. It’s about working smarter with what we already have and ensuring Scotland remains a global leader in seafood innovation and excellence,” said Seafood Scotland CEO Donna Fordyce.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.50 here.
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