Scottish salmon processors benefits from US$1.4 million grant

A grant assistance of US$1.4 million will benefit two salmon processors in Shetland, northeastern Scotland, to extend their facilities in the isles.

 

The grant assistance through the new European Fisheries Fund (EFF) was announced on Monday (Jan 26) to coincide with the visit of Scottish environment minister Mike Russell.

 

Lerwick Fish Traders will receive EUR420,000 towards a new integrated Baader grading and processing line, while Greenock based salmon oil producer Rossyew has been granted EUR738,000 to set up a plant in the isles to serve the local aquaculture industry.

 

Lerwick Fish Traders grant assistance will trigger a EUR1.4 million investment, which will help to increase the current workforce from 93 full time staff to over 100.

 

Rossyew's sales director Ian Wright said he was delighted with the award which would enable the company to go ahead with a EUR1.2 million expansion to the isles.

 

The company turns salmon by-products such as guts and heads into salmon oil and salmon protein which is used as ingredients in the animal feed and pet food industries.

 

Wright said a final decision on a location in the isles had not been made yet and therefore he was unable to say when the new plant would be up and running.

 

He added Shetland is a significant producer of salmon which makes sense logistically and economically to process the by-product on the islands rather than off the islands.

 

At present most of the off cuts are shipped to Norway for processing.

 

Russell said Lerwick Fish Traders and Rossyew are the first of a number of beneficiaries from EFF.

 

He hopes the EFF would aid more companies in developing a profitable and prosperous fish sector for Scotland in the coming months.