A time for working together

Like most areas of business, the seafood sector in Scotland is in  the midst of a very testing and trying time.  Lost markets for a number of high-end species such as Scallop and prawns and significantly reduced  demand for  whitefish has led to  a high number of vessels tying  to the quayside.  A limited number of  vessels continue to fish for haddock for the domestic market with species such as monkfish, hake, ling and megrim shipped to foreign markets mainly France and Spain.   These exports are traditional and form a significant element of the trade from fish processors in the north east of Scotland who send regular shipments on a daily basis.

That trade is now threatened  after a section of the French industry applied pressure through political routes to the large retailers to ensure that only fish of French origin is purchased at auction.  The genesis of their actions is unclear but understood to be linked to poor returns for a quantity of French fish.  What is clear is the impact their actions will  have for Scottish fishermen with exports of fish to France now reduced to very low levels.  Their actions have a direct impact on Scottish markets with prices for a number of key species dropping sharply.

Scottish waters are fished quite heavily by around thirty  large French vessels. These vessels land their catch into Scottish ports and truck the  produce to France. Understandably,   and in response to the protectionist measures applied in France, a  number of Scottish fishermen are saying that this practice must now be brought to a halt. 

In the hope of deescalating this whole affair  we are calling  on our French colleagues to step back from this agenda. Far more will be gained from working together than operating in isolation.