Type to search

Seafood

THE SCOTLAND OCEAN CLUSTER

THE SCOTLAND OCEAN CLUSTER

The Scotland Ocean Cluster. During the Responsible Seafood Summit, held in St Andrews earlier this year, Seafood Scotland team members took part in panel sessions. Head of Trade Marketing for the UK, Middle East and Asia, Adam Wing highlighted interesting consumer trends, revealing that 64% of people are more likely to buy products labelled Scottish. This indicates exciting opportunities to engage new audiences interested in the ‘taste of Scotland’

Fish Focus takes a look back at the event with our Responsible Seafood Summit in Focus.

In another session, Industry Engagement Manager Jeni Adamson stressed the importance of early education in inspiring young people and transforming perceptions of seafood beyond their local fish and chip shop.

The Summit effectively showcased Scottish seafood to a global audience, emphasising best practices – many of which were pioneered in Scotland – while also providing learning opportunities from leaders around the world.

“The Summit comes at a pivotal time for our industry, as we continue to navigate challenges in sustainability and economic resilience”, said Donna Fordyce, CEO of Seafood Scotland.

The Scotland Ocean Cluster

Iceland is leading the way when it comes to maximising value from seafood. Its own ocean cluster was set up around ten years ago and now advises other countries on best practice.

Recently, Donna visited Iceland to speak at a conference on driving additional value from the seafood sector and to learn more about the cluster’s approach. She said:

“I discovered that fish skins now command a higher price than the flesh. This is remarkable and is spurring us on to ensure that Scotland can replicate this success.”

Donna aims to raise £50,000 to establish the Scottish Ocean Cluster within the next year. “We see ourselves as custodians of the seas, emphasising the industry’s commitment to sustainability for future generations.”

Innovative companies like CuanTec are already transforming fish side streams into valuable products. Its Chrystal Chitosan powder, derived from shell by-products, recently secured its first commercial sale for advanced wound care applications, demonstrating the untapped potential in this sector.

“How do we increase the profitability of our seafood companies? That’s the rationale of why we want to do this,” Donna explained. “We need to increase profitability and boost resilience;
through this, businesses will be able to invest in the future and create a more sustainable sector.”

Seafood Scotland, established 25 years ago to promote Scottish seafood, has significantly expanded its role, providing not only marketing support but also industry leadership as the sector adapts to new challenges. Today, the organisation supports Scotland’s seafood producers in finding new premium markets, both domestically and abroad.

Tags