Scottish salmon farmers and processors will be trying to drive up flagging sales to the US when one of the world’s biggest seafood trade shows kicks off tomorrow.
Seafood Expo North America (Sena) runs until Wednesday in Boston, with nearly 20,000 international visitors and 400 key buyers expected to attend the event over the three days.
It is well-timed for the Scottish seafood industry after a slump in exports to the US last year.
According to HM Revenue and Customs UK salmon sales to America in 2015 were worth £160million, down from £213million the year before.
Wester Ross Salmon, which operates seawater sites in Loch Kannaird, Loch Broom and Little Loch Broom, as well as a freshwater smolt production unit at Elphin in Sutherland, a processing unit in Dingwall and a sales and administration office in Auldearn, will use Sena to showcase its hot-cured honey smoked salmon.
Dawnfresh, whose operations take in a site in Grantown, aims to introduce its premium R.R Spink branded salmon and trout to the US market.
And the Scottish Salmon Company – responsible for about 20% of all salmon production in Scotland – is looking to build on existing business across the pond.
Leading chef Mark Greenaway will be doing his bit for this country’s produce by serving up an estimated 3,000 portions for visitors to a seafood bar forming part of the Seafood Scotland/Scottish Development International (SDI) drive for a bigger slice of the North American market.
Mr Greenaway and a helper will be cooking Scottish haddock, salmon, trout, langoustines, cod, monkfish, crab and mackerel.
“We have such a fantastic array of seafood on offer in Scotland and this show offers the opportunity to showcase this on an international stage in an innovative and exciting way,” the chef said yesterday.
Seafood Scotland trade marketing manager Clare MacDougall said: “Export trade is crucial for the seafood industry in the UK, and our ongoing mission to inspire international audiences with Scottish salmon and seafood is one of the main elements of our global marketing strategy to support the sector.
“America has strong links with Scotland and Boston in particular has a strong link with our fishing heritage.
“We will also be joined by four Scottish skippers from the white-fish industry who will be investigating new market opportunities.”
Susan Beattie, head of food and drink at SDI, added: “It’s great to see such a strong delegation of ambitious Scottish companies going out to Boston to showcase their products to an influential international audience in one of our top prospect markets.”