Fishing leads way as food sector soars

SCOTLAND’S food and drinks industry is booming as new firms open and fish landings soar.

There has been a surge in pelagic fish, such as mackerel, up 42 per cent to £220million last year.

The number of food and drink businesses has increased by more than a quarter in the six years to 2014.

That includes all sectors, from manufacturing and production to bars and restaurants.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: ‘A 25 per cent rise in the number of food establishments indicates the outstanding strength of the food and drink sector.

‘For the industry to achieve that growth over such a short time during an economic downturn is fantastic.’

Last year, Scottish vessels caught 481,000 tons of fish and shellfish, worth £514million, and a 31 per cent rise in quantity but only an 18 per cent hike in value compared to 2013.

Mackerel was key to the industry’s success, up 52 per cent to £195million following an increase in quotas.

There was a 68 per cent increase in import and export businesses, at least partly due to the success of whisky, worth more than £5billion a year to the UK economy.

In a speech in Glasgow last night, CBI president Paul Drechsler stressed the importance of the EU in helping food and drink exporters.

He was due to say: ‘Scottish firms are reaping the benefits of deals negotiated – like the EU’s free trade agreement with Colombia, where whisky exporters see potential to grow their 10 per cent market share.’

But Lib Dem rural affairs spokesman Tavish Scott warned: ‘Scotland’s fishing industry faces a draconian set of EU bureaucratic rules that could decimate the value of the industry.’