Scottish seafood businesses have reeled in a near-£1million EU funding boost to help them showcase their produce at international trade shows.
Yesterday’s announcement of the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) grant to Seafood Scotland came as nearly 50 Scottish firms targeted buyers from around the world at the Seafood Expo Global (SEG)/Seafood Processing Global (SPG) event in Brussels.
The cash is expected to support the industry body at seven international trade shows over the next year, in Brussels, Boston, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Cologne.
Announcing the £900,000 funding in the Scotland pavilion at SEG/SPG, the world’s largest seafood trade show, Scottish Government Brexit minister Michael Russell said: “Raising the awareness and enhancing the global profile of the Scottish seafood industry will assist the sector as a whole, while helping individual businesses to expand into new markets and increase consumer awareness of their fine products.
“This is just one example of why EU funding is so important as it is helping showcase our fisheries sector, improve the quality of its products and develop more environmentally friendly practices.”
Patrick Hughes, head of Seafood Scotland, said: “We are delighted with the EMFF award.
“This will ensure that Seafood Scotland, along with the Scotland Food and Drink export partners, can continue to promote and assist business seeking to establish new global markets.
“This is especially important over the coming months as seafood from Scotland tries to cement its place as a true global competitor.”
Scottish highlights of SEG/SPG 2017, which got under way on Tuesday and ends today, include an underwater glimpse of an innovative salmon farming project.
North firm Wester Ross Salmon (WRS) is at the event with a small aquarium, showing the wrasse – species of cleaner fish – being used to keep farmed salmon clear of sea-lice.
Visitors to the WRS stand can also find out more about the wealth of natural life on the seabed around fish farms.
WRS managing director and Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation chairman Gilpin Bradley said: “Thousands of trade buyers come to meet salmon farmers at the exhibition but very few have the opportunity to see a salmon farm in action in Scotland.
“We thought we would bring a tiny part of it to them. In particular, we want to highlight the successful introduction of wrasse as a very effective and environmentally friendly way to keep salmon free of lice which occur naturally in the water.
“It’s also fascinating to see the secret life that goes on in the seabed around the farms – like the growth of scallops, prawns, even a baby turbot.”