A new campaign has been launched to encourage young people in Scotland to take up careers in the thriving aquaculture sector.
Led by partners from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), Lantra and Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA), the recruitment drive is targeted mainly at the under 30s such as school-leavers, university students, and graduates.
Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, who unveiled the campaign, said: “Scottish aquaculture is thriving and offers amazing careers in some of our most remote and stunning locations.
"Whether you are a school leaver or a graduate, it is an exciting time to be part of a sector which enjoys a worldwide reputation for quality, healthy farmed seafood.”
A series of short films are at the heart of the recruitment drive, featuring young people already working in aquaculture. The videos cover the breadth of the sector, from farm management to breeding programmes with one of the films focusing on post-graduate study with a student from Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), University of the Highlands and Islands.
A sector skills review, published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 2018, identified that only 38% of aquaculture graduates go on to work or undertake further study in the industry. Mary Fraser, head of skills and talent at SAIC, said,“With a new wave of talent, the sector can benefit from new ideas, insight and processes - ultimately helping to future-proof aquaculture in Scotland.”
