Seafood Scotland’s 25th anniversary celebrated at Holyrood event
The 25th anniversary of an organisation that supports the fishing industry has been celebrated in the Scottish Parliament.
MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast and convener of Holyrood’s Cross-Party Group on Fisheries and Coastal Communities Karen Adam hosted the event to mark the 25th year of Seafood Scotland.
It provides hands-on support and advice through a range of free services related to the seafood industry.
The team promotes Scottish seafood at home and around the world through trade shows, meet the buyer events, inward and outward missions, and showcasing dinners. It acts as a first contact point between potential buyers and Scottish seafood companies.
Scotland's fisheries and wider blue economy are rapidly evolving, and the Scottish food and drink sector, particularly the seafood industry, plays a leading role in supporting Scotland to thrive at home and abroad.
At the local level, the opportunities that fishing provides, from catching to processing and from packing to marketing, are vital to communities across Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
During her speech, MSP Karen Adam highlighted the vital work that Seafood Scotland has done over the past 25 years to support the seafood sector and the country’s coastal communities which rely heavily on the industry.
She also noted her particular interest in the Seafood in Schools programme —which is run by Seafood Scotland and is designed to bridge the gap in seafood education — and its importance in teaching children about the seafood legacy.
A number of fishers and fishing organisations from across the north-east were present at the event including Peterhead Port, the United Kingdom’s largest fishing port and Europe’s largest white fishing port; Fraserburgh Harbour, the United Kingdom’s largest shellfish port; as well as Amity Fish Company; the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association and Associated Seafoods.
Ms Adam said: "Scotland's blue economy — particularly fishers in my constituency of Banffshire and Buchan Coast — play a vital role in feeding our nation.
“And the history and culture of Scotland, especially of coastal communities in the north-east, have been significantly shaped by our fisheries.
"It is a privilege to represent so many of Scotland's fishers in the Scottish Parliament and to highlight the essential work they do in ensuring our food security.
“Over the past year, I have welcomed a number of ministers and senior diplomats to the north-east to discuss our flagship industry.
"I also have the honour of chairing the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Fisheries and Coastal Communities which I set up last year to give a voice to fishers in parliament on issues like HPMAs and the spatial squeeze.
"The Seafood Scotland event in the Scottish Parliament was another example of the great work we are doing to promote fisheries and I want to wish Seafood Scotland a very happy 25th birthday."
