The Scottish Ocean Cluster has received more than £15,000 from Marine Fund Scotland to drive the next stage of its mission to unlock far greater value from Scotland’s seafood side streams — the trimmings, shells, skins and other under-used materials that make up an estimated 265,000 tonnes of by-products each year.
The new funding builds on earlier support from Zero Waste Scotland and Seafood Scotland, which helped establish the Cluster in March and position the initiative at the heart of Scotland’s ambition to lead globally in circular, bio-based innovation.
The Cluster aims to bring together seafood producers, processors, researchers, biotech firms, investors, government and retailers to accelerate collaboration and commercialisation. Its goal is to treble the market value currently derived from seafood by-products, much of which still goes to low-value fishmeal, fish oil or disposal.
“Receiving this award from Marine Fund Scotland is a game-changer,” said Donna Fordyce, CEO of Seafood Scotland and lead for the Cluster. “It allows us to build on the solid foundation established over the past seven months and kickstart the next stage: translating research into real-world collaborations and innovative projects.”
Government support and new leadership
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon said the funding would boost both the seafood sector and wider coastal communities. “The Ocean Cluster is a groundbreaking project that will foster collaboration and innovation while creating new opportunities and greater value for the seafood industry,” she said. “I look forward to seeing how it progresses.”
To steer the next phase, the Cluster has appointed Dr Tracy White as project manager. A marine scientist with a PhD in pharmaceutical microbiology, White brings experience at the intersection of seafood and biotechnology, including senior roles at CuanTec and consultancy work supporting companies to develop high-value products from by-products.
“Tracy’s experience in biotechnology and commercialisation makes her the perfect person for this role,” Fordyce said. “She will play a key part in uniting partners across industry, academia and government.”
White’s initial work will focus on advancing the Cluster’s business plan, engaging partners, and preparing early collaborative projects — including a visit to Iceland to meet with the Iceland Ocean Cluster, a model for side-stream innovation globally.
“There is so much potential for additional value extraction across the seafood sector that has yet to be realised,” White said. “Side streams could feed into sectors from construction to cosmetics. The Cluster represents exactly the kind of support that has been missing.”
Since launching in March 2025, the Scottish Ocean Cluster — founded by Seafood Scotland with IBioIC, Zero Waste Scotland, Opportunity North East and Aberdeenshire Council — has already attracted more than 90 expressions of interest from companies across Scotland and beyond, signalling strong appetite for cross-sector collaboration.
