This year’s Scottish Skipper was two hectically busy days at the P&J Arena in Aberdeen, showcasing everything from the array of boats on display to creels and oilskins. The aisles buzzed with activity across the two days, with over 160 companies from 18 countries offering visitors a range of suppliers in person, something online ordering can’t replicate.
Show organiser Mara Media’s commercial fishing manager Sharon Boyle was able to breathe a sigh of relief and pour herself a drink at the end of it all, delighted at the strong attendance over the two days, the first time that the event has been held over two weekdays. But there hasn’t been a long break and there’s already work to be done on the upcoming events over the next two years as the Scottish and Irish Skipper Expos go biennial.
‘With the show now held every two years and the next one in 2026, it was fantastic to see the lively atmosphere as visitors took advantage of meeting suppliers from around the world. With up to 2500 attendees, there was a sense of optimism in the fishing industry after some challenging years’ she said, able at last to catch up and review the success of this year’s show.
There are already dates for the next events, with the Irish Skipper 2025 scheduled for 21st-22nd March at the UL Sports Arena Limerick, and the Scottish Skipper Expo 2026 to take place 7th-8th May 2026.
This year’s event – sponsored by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and Peterhead Port Authority – certainly lived up to expectations… ‘A great show,’ said Gerry Smyth of G Smyth Boats.
‘We were delighted to be one of the two main sponsors of the Scottish Skipper Expo 2024. The event was very successful, with a large number of attendees reflecting the confidence within the sector at this time,’ said Peterhead Port Authority’s head of commercial fisheries, Peter Duncan.
‘At our stand we had a new innovation this year – a set of 360° virtual reality goggles with footage of several areas of the port including the inside of the fishmarket and the shiplift as a vessel was returned to sea following repainting work. It’s not always possible for those who would like to visit Peterhead to do so – with this virtual reality headset we were able to take the Port to the people. Gratifyingly, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Mairi Gougeon, came to view the footage and was amazed by the experience!’
‘The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) was proud once again to sponsor the Scottish Skipper Expo,’ commented SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald.
‘The Expo is a great opportunity for us to speak to fishermen from across the country and to meet with many other organisations working across the sector. We were also delighted to be able to showcase SFF’s Pride In The Seas exhibition to a wider audience, and to have Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon sign the Pride In The Seas pledge, as well as making a speech and formally opening the show. Another very well organised event – the Skipper team are great to work with. Here’s to 2026!’
The 2024 Expo also featured the popular Seafood Tasters, hosted by Seafood Scotland. Visitors enjoyed freshly prepared seafood delicacies, including seared scallops, haddock tacos, breaded scampi, butter-basted langoustine tails and Cullen Skink – a huge hit among all.
‘I want to thank all exhibitors for their tremendous support,’ Sharon Boyle added.
‘After 12 years, the event has become a community, providing companies with a platform to network, collaborate, and conduct business.’
