This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Seafood leads food export trade
24/04/2002
Scotland's seafood industry is generating big business
from exports to Europe worth £236 million for the Scottish
economy, it was announced today.
Fifty eight per cent of Scotland's food exports are
seafood, and industry that employs in excess of 17,000
people and generates turnover approaching £700 million. The
market in Europe is the biggest customer for Scots
produce.
The Executive has set targets for Scotland's food
industry for new investment and exports - £200m in new
investment by 2006 and exports - excluding whisky - of
£500m by 2004.
Speaking today at the European Seafood Exposition in
Brussels, the Minister for Environment and Rural
Development, Ross Finnie, said:
This is the world's largest seafood exhibition and the
most important showcase event for the Scottish seafood
industry. I am delighted that Scotland is the most
significant and visible grouping at this year's show.
We have around fifty companies exhibiting and I know
there are many more here who may not be exhibiting, but are
still doing business and winning orders. Over the last 2
years around £20 million of additional sales have been
achieved at the European Seafood Exposition.
Scotland boasts some of the finest seafood in the world
which - deservedly so - enjoys an unrivalled reputation as
a top-quality product. The industry also plays a
significant role in supporting employment in many fragile
rural and coastal communities.
The companies I met today operate in a fiercely
competitive international market, but they all demonstrated
a commitment to cornering new export markets with a
top-quality product.
Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
and Scottish Development International are to be
congratulated for working closely and productively with
Scottish companies to help them export successfully."
Landings by Scottish vessels have consistently
represented over 60% of UK total landings. In addition to
the wild catch, aquaculture production has a total value
that is currently estimated at around £349 million. About
35% of fish processing workers in the UK are based in
Scotland.
Latest complete figures show that processing output
comprised around £700 million of sea fish and farmed fish.
Markets for these products are worldwide.
Processed fish accounts for about half of Scottish
processed food exports. In 2001, Scottish based fishing
vessels landed sea fish worth approximately £330
million.
Available employment figures suggest that there are 6900
workers directly employed in sea fish catching, 1728
employed in salmon farming, and around 400 in farming of
other species. Around 8600 are employed directly in fish
processing.