The Board of Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) has approved the introduction of an electronic auction within the fish market, expected to become operational early next year.
‘This is an exciting moment for the port and Peterhead community,’ said PPA chief executive Graeme Reid.
‘Peterhead Port Authority has invested around £70m on facilities in the Port in the last ten years, and this next investment will further reinforce and future-proof Peterhead Port’s position as the leading fish port in Europe.’
He stated that a wide-ranging consultation process on the subject earlier this year showed overwhelming support for the introduction of an electronic auction, replacing the traditional ‘shout’ auction.
The consultation also highlighted a number of challenges, which PPA has been reviewing and seeking solutions to. Graene Reid said PPA staff had met with some representatives from stakeholder groups to consider how challenges could be resolved.
‘The Board of Peterhead Port Authority are now content solutions to these challenges have been found,’ he said, commenting that work will now commence on detailed design of the E-auction system, involving further engagement with stakeholder groups, with a view to it going live in early spring next year.
