Scrabster Seafoods Ltd is building a new crab processing factory at Scrabster harbour in the far north of Scotland to take advantage of the 2,000 tonnes of crab landed by fishermen every year.
The company, which primarily exports white fish landed at the harbour to mainland Europe and the Far East, is now looking at investing in new plant and equipment to begin crab processing on site, supported by £119,832 from economic development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
“We are grateful to HIE for their ongoing support. This new project will be a great benefit for the local fisherman and the community in terms of employment going forward. It will allow fishermen to have greater choice in who they sell their catch to and a more convenient and flexible market, which can only be a good thing for them,” said William Calder Junior, Scrabster Seafoods.
The current trade in brown crab takes the catch directly from the boats to lorries before being transported direct to the customer, mainly in European markets such as Spain and Portugal. The new project will allow the company to add value to the product before it is exported, creating jobs and supporting the local economy.
“This diversification into crab processing should open up new markets to the company and ensure the business continues to grow for many more years to come. We are delighted to be supporting the company towards purchasing new equipment and marketing support,” added Roy Kirk, area manager, HIE.
Scrabster Seafoods, a family-owned business established in 1968, is an importer, vessel sales agent, processor and exporter of white fish and other seafood, handling around 4,000 tonnes annually. It has an operation in the Faroe Islands and a sales office in France.
