A report showing that global demand for seafood continues to rise has been published.
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) report coincides with the world’s largest seafood show which is taking place in Brussels this week.
The report shows that global seafood consumption grew from 137 million metric tons in 2006 to 140 million metric tons in 2007 and is expected to increase again to 143 million metric tons in 2008.
Seventeen Scottish companies will exhibit at the European Seafood Exposition (ESE) with more than 200 representatives from Scotland’s pelagic, whitefish, shellfish and salmon sectors expected to attend.
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead, who will attend the ESE on Wednesday, said:
“Our delicious, healthy seafood is playing a pivotal role in enhancing Scotland’s reputation as a land of food and drink. ESE offers companies an excellent opportunity to target international buyers. Our finest chefs are serving delicious crab, langoustine and monkfish – the same dishes that have been selected for the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition next year. I hope that buyers will grab the bait.”
Scottish seafood exports are estimated to be worth around £500 million, representing more than 62 per cent by value of total Scottish food exports (£805 million). Scottish vessels account for approximately 66 per cent of the UK fleet, land roughly 70 per cent of the UK catch, and capture the bulk of the world’s langoustine supplies. Scotland is the world’s second biggest producer of farmed salmon, exporting to more than 60 international markets.
Libby Woodhatch, chief executive of Seafood Scotland, which is hosting the Seafood Bar at ESE said:
“Scottish seafood has a key role to play in leading sustainable economic growth in the food and drink sector and we anticipate a lot of interest from overseas buyers in the top quality seafood our chefs will be sampling.”
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) and Scottish Quality Salmon (SQS), which is exhibiting for the first time in six years to promote Label Rouge Scottish salmon, said:
“The seafood sector is Scotland’s largest food export and a major supplier to global markets. Scotland is the only significant producer of farmed salmon within the European Union where it holds a reputation for high quality, in particular for Label Rouge Scottish salmon.”
David Smith, interim chief executive of Scottish Development International, said:
“With the welcome news that there is growing global demand for seafood, it’s more important than ever for Scottish seafood suppliers to attend exhibitions like ESE.
“Thanks to similar SDI support last year, Scottish seafood companies secured around £20 million of orders at ESE and made valuable new connections with international buyers. We will continue to support this sector, to make sure that companies have the support they need to successfully compete for their share of this growing international market.”
The European Union is the world’s largest seafood market, followed by the United States and Japan. The Scottish Government and Scotland Food & Drink have identified the food and drink sectors as key economic areas for development, especially in the export market. The target is to increase the value of the food and drink sectors from £7.5 billion to £12.5 billion by 2017.
ESE is the world’s largest seafood trade fair, featuring the stands of more than 1600 exhibiting companies and attracting buyers and sellers from 144 countries.
The 17 companies exhibiting in the Scottish Pavilion are:
Whitefish:
Caley Fisheries Ltd
Iceberg Ltd
J.K. Thomson
Shellfish:
Sco-Fro Group Limited
Scotprime Seafoods Ltd
Pelagic Fish:
International Fish Canners
Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage Company Limited
Norsea
Salmon:
Brown Food Group (Lion Speciality)
Framgord Limited
Highland Smoked Salmon (Scotland) Limited
Lighthouse Caledonia
Lossie Seafood Ltd
Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation
Sea Products of Scotland Ltd
St James Smokehouse Ltd
Wester Ross Fisheries Ltd
There is also significant additional representation from the Scottish seafood sector outside of the Scottish Pavilion.
Scottish seafood will be used for the first time in 2011 at the final of the world-renowned Bocuse d’Or competition in Lyon, France, in an initiative promoted by Seafood Scotland.
Scottish salmon was the first non-French food to receive the highly-prized Label Rouge designation. Sales of Label Rouge Scottish Salmon rose to 7,251 tonnes from 6,099 tonnes in 2008, with support from the Scottish Government through a European Fisheries Fund (EFF) grant.
