Calls to take advantage of north-east seafood locally at Taste of Grampian

The national body for the Scottish fishing industry yesterday called on locals to take advantage of the huge range of culinary treasures in the waters off the north-east.

Chairman of the Scottish Seafood Association, Will Clark, made the comments at Taste of Grampian‘s Seafood Market where mammoth-sized cod, hake and catfish lay alongside the likes of squid, langoustines and lobsters.

Mr Clark said much of the produce netted by local fishermen was either shipped abroad or underused, and that getting it onto plates locally could help the fishing industry get back on its feet.

He said: “What we’re trying to do is raise the public awareness of what actually is on their doorstep in the way of fresh quality seafood – 80% of the fish that is landed into Scotland is exported and 90% of the seafood consumed in the UK is imported.

“It seems very ironic that we’ve got the best produce and the rest of Europe is enjoying it and our own public are enjoying an inferior product and not realising what is on their doorstep.

“We need to really start diversifying, to broaden people’s horizons of what is actually on their doorstep – that is what we’re trying to do.”