GRIMSBY FISH MARKET INVESTS IN THE FUTURE

Grimsby fish market invests in the future. Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises Ltd (GFDE) is looking forward to the future with confidence for its fish market operation with new investment ensuring the best possible facilities and services for the local fish processing sector.

Despite a challenging economic background, Grimsby still retains its position as the biggest fish processing centre in the UK with the fish market handling around 10,000 to 11,000 tonnes of fish per year, around 80% of which is from Iceland, and most of the balance from Scotland and Norway.

Martyn Boyers, Chief Executive of GFDE, told Fish Focus that key priorities were to further improve facilities and services for fish buyers, as well as develop plans to reduce carbon emissions to help the UK meet its net-zero targets for 2050.

Recently, to improve the operation, the market building was upgraded and split into two distinct areas – one for receiving fish where it is weighed and graded, and the other for the auction sales. A protective canopy has also been installed over the loading bays. GFDE is now working closely with fish processing equipment specialist Marel to put in place an exact weighing system, which will deliver additional benefits for local processors.

At the 7am auctions, local merchants and buyers descend upon the fish market where their purchases are then processed and sold to retail, restaurants, take-aways and mobile fishmongers.
“We have also procured three new all-electric forklift trucks for handling the fish as part of our commitment to decarbonisation and have installed emission saving lighting systems, and we will continue to put environmental responsibility at the heart of our operation,” says Martyn Boyers.

In 2019, GFDE set up Grimsby Fish Market Ltd to take over the fresh fish import interest of Icelandic fish to ensure continuity of supply after the previous supplier, Atlantic Fresh, decided to wind down its operation. This side of the business is run by Nelson Hunter and has proved a major boon to the local industry.

Martyn Boyers says:

“Moving with the times and addressing new challenges is part and parcel of what we do, and as well as looking after and developing the fish market operation, we have also diversified into other sectors, including into offshore wind operations and maintenance facilities, and with the significant investment in Grimsby Shipyard Services, another division. There are about 10 offshore windfarms within a 100 nautical mile radius from Grimsby, so we are perfectly positioned to provide a service base.”

Today, the GFDE operation is split equally between the fish market and its other offshore service operations. However, despite this broadening in the scope of activities, the fish market will always remain a core element of the GFDE operation and where new opportunities will be seized upon.

“We are aware of new Government funding opportunities for the seafood sector in England, and are keen to take advantage of the support to ports that has been made available,” says Martyn Boyers.

“Something like 80% of the fish we eat in England is imported, and 80% of what our own national fleet catches is exported, so Grimsby is well placed as an import hub of high-quality Icelandic cod and haddock for home consumption. Fish is a healthy-to-eat food that is in high demand in the UK, so we can look forward to the future with confidence, and our challenge is to ensure the best possible services and facilities in Grimsby to meet that demand.”