The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Skipper Expo showcase for the fishing industry
The Scottish Skipper Expo, held in Aberdeen, offered a comprehensive showcase of fishing-related products and services, drawing both industry professionals and enthusiasts.
From heavy-duty wellies to state-of-the-art fishing boats, the event presented a wide range of modern fishing gear and technology.
Those with bigger shopping budgets may have fancied one or more of the seven new fishing boats on display.
All of these and much more were showcased at the now biennial event at P&J Live.
Skippers, vessel owners, processors and many others from the industry were at the two-day show to see new technology and meet suppliers.
The event boasted a strong line-up of UK and overseas businesses showcasing a wide range of products and services.
Meanwhile, tasty snacks laid on by trade body Seafood Scotland were snapped up enthusiastically by exhibitors and show visitors alike.
Despite the excitement surrounding the event, significant challenges facing the Scottish fishing industry were brought to the forefront.
Yesterday’s opening speeches from Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Elspeth Macdonald and rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon highlighted some of them.
They were both keen to see a further improvement in relations between the sector and Holyrood following recent progress.
Key concerns included the relationship between the sector and government, particularly regarding contentious issues such as Highly Protected Marine Areas and the proliferation of offshore wind farms.
These challenges underscored the need for continued dialogue and collaboration to address the industry’s evolving landscape.
Seafood Scotland’s mouth-watering treats showcased Scottish produce at its best. But, as Donna Fordyce, the trade body’s chief executive, pointed out, the industry needs people to catch and process it.
Tougher immigration roles after Brexit are limiting the pool of available talent.
Efforts to attract and train new entrants were evident, with initiatives like Seafood in Schools aiming to educate young people about potential careers in the industry.
Recruiting young people into the sector is very much the focus of the Peterheadbased Scottish Maritime Academy (SMA), a firsttime exhibitor. Part of North East Scotland College, SMA provides courses to new entrants across the maritime sector.
Port facilities also took centre stage, with ports like Peterhead and Shetland vying for skippers’ business by highlighting their modern facilities and strategic location near prime fishing grounds.
The competition between these ports underscored the importance of infrastructure in the industry’s operations and growth.
Meanwhile, researchers from the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen were at the expo as part of a mission to develop potential new by-products for the Scottish fishing sector. Fish oil and fish meal are already being produced as by-products.
But examples elsewhere in the world include extracting insulin from fish eyes, using fish skin for leather and even skin grafts, and using shellfish shells for land drainage.
Applied economist Nazli Koseoglu said: “We would like the industry to help us identify where the best opportunities are and find ways to overcome the barriers to unlock them.
“If we can help pinpoint what the opportunities are, it could help bring in innovative players, funding and opportunities to collaborate.”
Scottish Skipper Expo will be back at P&J Live in May 2026.