Jeni Adamson: Navigating Scotland’s Seafood future. Fish Focus celebrates women in seafood in our latest publication.
Jeni Adamson, Seafood Scotland’s Industry Engagement Manager, is playing a pivotal role in building a sustainable and successful future for the sector. Her work takes her across communities, processing facilities and classrooms – and while no two days are the same, each has a consistent theme: sharing the stories of people who make Scottish seafood world-renowned.
A career anchored in Scotland’s marine world
Jeni’s interest in working with the marine sector has been evident throughout her career. After completing a degree in Marine Biology at Stirling University, she went on to earn a Master’s in Estuarine and Coastal Science and Management from Hull University. Before joining Seafood Scotland, she worked at sector skills council Lantra, engaging with the aquaculture industry and raising awareness of the wide variety of job roles and progression opportunities available.
In 2023, Jeni was appointed Industry Engagement Manager at Seafood Scotland and – thanks largely to her wealth of knowledge and experience – hit the ground running.
“On my second day, I was sent down to Largs to trawl for langoustines with a local fisherman,” Jeni recalls. “Nothing beats being out on the water with the people whose skills and knowledge put Scottish seafood on the global stage. No matter how much you think you understand the industry, there’s always something to learn from the people who live it every day.”
Jeni’s role isn’t just about working with people already in the industry. It’s also about opening doors for people who may join it in the future. Drawing on her previous experience, she has been spearheading Seafood in Schools, a programme designed to engage young people with the seafood sector.
The programme delivers tailored workshops at primary and secondary school levels. Younger pupils explore different fish and shellfish species, often tasting seafood they have never tried before, while older pupils combine these activities with career exploration and pathways into the industry, complementing wider efforts to attract talent and showcase career diversity across the seafood supply chain.
“It sounds cliché, but young people really are our future. If we want the Scottish seafood sector to thrive, we need to spark that interest early and show them just how many opportunities there are.
“When people think about careers in seafood or aquaculture, they often think about catching, selling or processing fish and shellfish. But the reality is so much more varied than that. We also need people who are great at marketing, who work in HR, who do accounting, who can develop new technologies… the list goes on and on.”
Championing women from shore to C-suite
Alongside her work, Jeni is a strong advocate for women in the traditionally male-dominated seafood space. She is a member of Women in Scottish Aquaculture and Women in Fisheries, and volunteers as a STEM Ambassador, championing visibility and access.
“So many studies have shown that diversity breeds innovation and resilience – and that includes gender diversity. Women have always contributed to this sector, often behind the scenes or in unpaid family roles, but it’s vital that more of us are seen, heard, and represented across all levels.”
One of the aspects that drew her to Seafood Scotland was the organisation’s commitment to championing women across the industry.
“Having a woman in the most senior role makes a huge difference. Donna [Fordyce, CEO] is a brilliant example of someone who has reached the top and continues to work towards lifting others up. Seeing women in C-suite roles sends a clear message: these positions are not just possible, they’re genuinely accessible.”
Jeni’s passion for Scotland’s seafood and the people behind it shines through in everything she does – her efforts connect people, ideas and opportunities across the seafood supply chain. By championing skills, sustainability and diversity, she is helping to ensure Scotland’s seafood industry is well-positioned for the future.
We will be posting each individual article on our website over the coming weeks, but you can read the complete issue in our publications section here.
If you are a women working in the seafood/marine industry and you would like to be part of our next issue of Women in Seafood, or if you know of someone who you think should be, please contact me at mary@fishfocus.co.uk
Images: Jeni Adamson