The Scottish government has unveiled a new seafood strategy to help the industry be “entrepreneurial, domestically and internationally competitive with a secure supply chain”.
The national measures include sector-specific activity such as that falling under the Fisheries Management Strategy and the Regulatory Review of Aquaculture, more general food and drink supports, and wider programmes such as the Islands Growth Deal and Fair Work and Skills.
What’s more, the government is setting up a business support landing webpage to collate relevant information for the sector, including marine funding. “We will also continue to push for Seafish to demonstrate more clearly its role for Scottish industry and the benefit it provides,” the new strategy paper said.
Amongst the plans announced is also the delivery of the second phase of the Scotland Food and Drink Export Plan.
This is underpinned by £4.5 million of joint funding from the Scottish Government, industry and Scottish Development International and is helping Scottish companies take their products into new and existing markets, exploiting the most significant export opportunities for Scotland.
“The seafood sector provides employment, is an integral part of the way of life in many coastal towns and villages and will be an essential part of our green recovery as we move towards our vision of a wellbeing economy as laid out in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation,” Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, said. “We have a vision for Scotland as a world class fishing nation, delivering responsible and sustainable sea fisheries management, as outlined in our Future Fisheries Management Strategy.
“We will also deliver a vision for an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for the aquaculture sector later this year, supporting the continued success of the UK‘s number one food export – farmed salmon – whilst making progress to increase production of shellfish and seaweed.”
