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Seafood industry support worth £5.8 million announced
23rd May 2003
Seafish News Release
The UK seafood industry will receive support of £5.8 million with a package of work unveiled by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) today at the International Festival of the Sea in Edinburgh.
The projects, all directly funded by the Seafish levy, will benefit all sectors of the industry from fishermen to fish and chip shop owners. The work is expected to lever additional funding of £3m from other grant-funding bodies.
The package of projects includes:
£3.1 million for activities which support seafood industry development – this includes seafood promotion, support to regional marketing initiatives like Seafood Scotland, projects with schools, export missions, and providing free market data to businesses.
£1.1 million for technical research into conservation fishing methods, fish handling, waste management, improved traceability and quality.
£1.6 million for training including the funding of a network of regional seafood industry training associations.
John Rutherford, Seafish Chief Executive said:
“The Seafish levy is payable on all seafood landed, farmed or imported in the UK. Our remit is to add value to that levy funding by delivering services which might not otherwise be available to industry and which individual businesses would not be able to develop on their own. Good examples are safety training and navigational charts for fishermen. All of the work that we are carrying out this year is designed to make a positive difference to those operating our industry’s diverse businesses.”
Highlights in the programme include:
Seafood Week – a UK-wide promotion of seafood which takes place from 3 to 10 October and last year saw an increase in sales for those who took part.
An innovative study in the Clyde where fishermen are ‘helping themselves’ to manage their fishery in a more conservation-friendly way.
Promotion of a range of research and awards to improve quality and raise standards net to plate.
Pilot work on new ways to make the waste from seafood processing turn into profits, for example by developing it as garden compost.
The Fish & Chip Shop of the Year Competition - the annual race to find the best supplier of the UK’s favourite takeaway.
Seafish was established by the Government in 1981 and is a Non Departmental Public Body.
Seafish works with all sectors of the UK seafood industry – fishermen, processors, wholesalers, importers, exporters, seafood farmers, fish friers, caterers and retailers.
Seafish promotes seafood to consumers and works with the industry to raise standards, improve efficiency and secure a sustainable future.
The International Festival of the Sea took place from 23 to 26 May 2003 and was organised by a charitable trust.
For more information contact Kirsty Innes on 0131 524 8656 or 07876 035 761 or Anne Kennedy on 0131 524 8658.
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