SAIC gets top farmers on board
DAWNFRESH farming director Alison Hutchins and the managing director of Shetland Mussels, Michael Tait, have joined the board of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), it was announced on February 28.
With a combined 35 years of experience, Hutchins and Tait will enhance the board’s existing expertise, said SAIC.
The board consists of 10 members, including producers, academics, and observers from the Scottish Funding Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Based in Argyll, Hutchins has 17 years’ experience in aquaculture, working across organisations such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Scottish Salmon Company, before joining Dawnfresh, the UK’s largest trout producer.
She has a strong understanding of regulatory processes, as well as developing strategies for site development and business growth.
Tait, meanwhile, has been the chairman of the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group since 2012 and built Shetland Mussels into the UK’s second largest producer of mussels.
An experienced director and entrepreneur, he worked on behalf of the shellfish sector to contribute to the aquaculture industry’s Vision
2030 growth strategy.
Hutchins said: ‘This is an exciting time to be involved in the aquaculture industry in Scotland. Over the years I have worked hard to attract funding, encourage innovation and ensure the kind of growth the industry in this country is capable of.’
Tait said: ‘‘I hope that we can continue to assist the industry in unlocking its full potential, especially in rural areas like Shetland, where I’m based. I’m sure my SME and shellfish sector experience will enhance the board’s existing knowledge and bring a fresh perspective to its thinking.’