Scottish fisheries are to receive over £200,000 of new funding to help them achieve independent sustainability certification.
First Minister Alex Salmond was at Peterhead Harbour to celebrate the successful certification of Scottish North Sea herring by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The MSC certification scheme is a voluntary fisheries eco-label which recognises responsible and sustainable working practices to conserve stocks.
Scottish North Sea herring is one of only 31 fisheries worldwide to achieve the certification. It is also the first large-scale UK fishery and the first refrigerated seawater tank fishery in the world to achieve MSC certification to date.
Today’s investment strengthens the support available to Scottish fisheries seeking sustainability certification and will be used to part fund two roles: Seafood Scotland’s Environmental Manager and MSC’s Scottish Outreach Officer.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
“Scotland’s fishing industry is to be congratulated on its success in achieving MSC certification for Scottish North Sea herring and its work to harvest fish in a sustainable and responsible manner.
“Scottish seafood is amongst the best in the world and contributes more than £400 million to our economy. This new investment of over £200,000 highlights the Scottish Government’s firm commitment to Scottish fisheries and to ensuring they are well managed, sustainable and profitable.
“All fisheries depend upon well managed, sustainable stocks and certification is vital to the future success of Scottish fisheries and their local communities.
“Scotland recognises the importance of sustainability and is leading the way in sustainability certification with over 50 per cent of Scottish fisheries currently under full assessment for the MSC certification and growing.
“It is clear that more and more consumers are looking for a guarantee that the produce they are eating is sourced in a sustainable manner and certification schemes such as MSC play a valuable role in promoting fish consumption.
“The Scottish Government and the country’s food and drink industry have set ambitious targets to increase the value of the industry’s output from £7.5 billion to £10 billion. We will only be successful in achieving that target if our products are regarded as the best in the market place. MSC certification is an important step for the Scottish fishing industry and the economy as a whole.”
