The Scottish Government has announced funding of £1.8million for industry body Seafood Scotland to support increased access to international markets.

Seafood Scotland will be using the funding to promote Scottish fish produce across the UK and the world.

Donna Fordyce, Chief Executive of Seafood Scotland said:

“The Scottish seafood supply chain is now firmly in recovery mode, with ambitious plans to access new markets and to grow existing trade relationships.

“Our role is to support them on this journey, opening doors to new opportunities, and to spread the word about the quality of our produce, which is prized the world over.”

In March of this year Seafood Scotland turned its attention towards the lucrative Chinese market where it worked with the China-Britain Business Council aimed at promoting sales there.

The Scottish Government funding will also be used to improve quality assurance and accreditation of seafood produce now we are no longer in the world’s largest free trade market – the EU.

Campaigns will also involve chefs to showcase fish based recipes.

Announcing the funding on a visit to processors Joseph Robertson in Aberdeen, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:

“The last 16 months have been devastating for businesses in the seafood sector who have faced significant losses due to hospitality closures from Covid-19 and a raft of new trade barriers and bureaucracy following Brexit.

“The seafood sector is a crucial part of our rural economy, supporting jobs in coastal communities and our priority has been to protect people’s livelihoods.

“While we continue to work to resolve some of the export issues the sector faces, this new funding will help the sector’s longer term recovery from these recent challenges.

“The funding for Seafood Scotland will help businesses explore new markets, giving them the support to promote their products across the UK and further afield.”