Editor’s Welcome

Pivotal world events are fascinating to report on, but they can be a nightmare when they fall across print production deadlines. By the time you read this, Boris Johnson and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, may have agreed their trade deal. Alternatively, we may be looking at the prospect of a no deal Brexit, with all that implies for those companies exporting from, or importing into, the UK.

Whichever of those proves to be the outcome, as we go to press it is clear that there will be big changes ahead for the seafood trade. And, as Sandy Neil’s feature on preparing for Brexit finds, there are a great many unanswered questions.

Elsewhere in this issue, Tim Huntington puts the case for the ambitious aims of the English Aquaculture Strategy, which projects that a tenfold increase in production by 2040 is possible for England’s “blue economy”.

Dr Martin Jaffa considers the pros and cons of the pinger – the acoustic deterrent device, that is – and Nicki Holmyard looks at the drive to market shellfish to the consumer, for Christmas and beyond.

We profile Tavish Scott, CEO at the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation and find out how he intends to deal with the challenges ahead for the sector.

We’re also taking a look at the fast-changing world of genetics, the technology of fish handling and how to ensure and monitor the health of cleaner fish.

Meanwhile, as the year draws to a close I wish all our readers the best for a happy and successful 2021. May it prove to be less full of shocks than this year!