SCOTTISH SEAFOOD LANDS BIG PRIZES AT SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

Scottish seafood lands big prizes at sustainability awards as case is made for eating more local fish

Scottish seafood was the star of the show at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) UK Awards ceremony in Edinburgh last night (22 October) as a leading professor of nutrition made the case for why we should all be eating more local seafood.

Guests at Edinburgh’s elegant Signet Library were treated to a feast of sustainable fish from Scottish waters while two of the country’s best known and loved species claimed prestigious prizes. Seafood Scotland, national trade and marketing body for the Scottish seafood industry, was supporting partner for the event.

In her keynote address, Baukje de Roos, Professor of Nutrition at The Rowett Institute at Aberdeen University, said: “Eating fish is good for you. In fact, consuming just 2 to 4 portions of fish per week can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease by up to 20%.”

Despite this, we continue to export a lot of the healthy, nutritious fish caught in our waters, she said: “If young people start eating local fish now, it could become a lifelong habit that supports both personal health and environmental sustainability.”

The gala event to celebrate the achievements of businesses sourcing, selling and serving sustainable seafood also saw two leading lights from the Scottish fishing and aquaculture industries address the audience and share stories from their respective journeys in seafood: MSC certified herring fisherman Alex Wiseman and Gordon Turnbull, from ASC certified Isle of Mull Oysters.

Following a public vote, the MSC UK Product of the Year 2025 award went to Waitrose No.1 Moules Marinière with Wild Garlic & Chardonnay, made with rope grown Shetland mussels, while MOWI Scottish salmon fillets won ASC UK Product of the Year.

The menu for the evening included ASC-certified Scottish salmon and oysters and MSC-certified Scottish plaice, mussels and herring.

George Clark, Programme Director of MSC UK and Ireland said: “It seems absolutely fitting to be celebrating the best of sustainable British seafood in the capital of Scotland – home to so much incredible produce and fishermen who are leading the way in their practices to protect our fish stocks for future generations to enjoy.”

Maud van den Haspel, ASC General Manager, Netherlands and UK said: “We’re delighted to be in Edinburgh celebrating the very best of aquaculture. Scotland is widely recognised as a leader in responsible seafood farming, with salmon farming in particular playing a vital role in supporting the national economy, providing employment in rural communities and driving innovation across the sector. It’s fitting that the consumer vote for ASC Product of the Year went to Scottish salmon – a firm favourite and proudly on the menu tonight.”

Other notable winners on the night included:

Tesco, awarded Gold in the MSC Supermarket of the Year category for the excellent progress it made in increasing the number of its MSC labelled products and volume sold.

Sainsbury’s awarded ASC UK Retailer of the Year for its 100% commitment to sourcing ASC-certified seafood and for offering the highest share of responsibly farmed products both in-store and online.

Poole Harbour Clam and Cockle Fishery won the MSC UK Ocean Leadership Award for its innovative use of drones to protect stocks, the livelihoods of permitted fishermen and its unique marine environment.

Main Image © Craig Heaslip for MSC