A taskforce instrumental in smoothing Scottish seafood exports met for the final time on Monday with reassurances that engagement with the fisheries sector will continue.
The Scottish Seafood Exports Taskforce was initiated to consider export issues following Britain’s exit from the EU. It brought together industry representatives from the catching, processing and aquaculture segments with senior political figures and officials from both the UK and Scottish governments. Key members included the Scottish Seafood Association, Scottish Fishermen’s Association, Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation and Seafood Scotland.
The taskforce was chaired by David Duguid, UK Government Minister for Scotland. "A tremendous spirit of co-operation has helped us deliver results, for instance on more rapid digitalisation of the processes around exporting,” he said. “The frequency of supplier declarations has been cut back, helping ease the administrative burden on business and other changes driven by the taskforce have cut the time required to ready seafood for export.
"We will issue a final report from the taskforce and have agreed to reconvene in six weeks’ time to map out with industry how best to continue our productive two-government engagement,” he added.
Minister Duguid continued. “The UK Government has committed £100m to help ensure an industry vital to so many of our coastal communities has a bright future.”
