‘So much to sea’ in Shetland

SEAFOOD played a starring role in Shetland’s annual Food Fair with leading seafood organisations becoming major sponsors for the first time.

The Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation Shetland, Seafood Shetland and Cooke Aquaculture Scotland were behind the event, which ran for three days in Lerwick.

Under the ‘So Much to Sea’ banner, they mounted an industry exhibition and film, seafood cookery demonstrations and a ‘fish shop’ selling the best local fish and shellfish.

A range of newly produced recipe leaflets, featuring well-known local chefs and food enthusiasts, were made available to fair-goers to help them create their own fish suppers.

Chairman of the Master Chefs of Great Britain (MCGB) George McIvor and current honorary vice-president Bill Bryce cooked up some of Shetland’s finest seafood during the event.

David Sandison (pictured), general manager of Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation Shetland said: ‘We often take for granted the quality of the produce on our doorstep and it is useful to rediscover, through the eyes of others, just how fortunate we are to have direct access to food that is coveted by food connoisseurs throughout the world.’

Ruth Henderson, chief executive of Seafood Shetland, said: ‘Shetland’s seafood sector is the largest contributor to the isles’ economy, supplying farmed and caught fish and shellfish all over the world. We’re proud to be supporting the growth of this important event.’

Cooke Aquaculture Scotland managing director Colin Blair said: ‘As a company at the forefront of high quality salmon production in the northern-most farming region in the UK, we wanted to contribute actively to this important event for Shetland.

‘The Shetland Food Fair plays a vital role in the promotion of all that’s great about Shetland food and drink – and, most importantly, the companies behind the products.’