Seafood Scotland has marked two significant milestones for key initiatives designed to strengthen the industry’s resilience and reputation to a global audience at the 31st Seafood Expo Global (SEG) in Barcelona – the Scottish Ocean Cluster and Scottish Quality Langoustine (SQL) Scheme.
In collaboration with Scottish Enterprise’s International Team, Seafood Scotland will once again lead Scotland’s presence at the world’s largest seafood trade event. With many Scottish businesses making the annual pilgrimage to the show, Seafood Scotland will host 14 leading producers, representing every step of the sea-to-plate journey, featuring a diverse array of fishers and processors, while also showcasing premium Scottish seafood at their live kitchen setup.
Donna Fordyce, CEO of the trade marketing body for Scotland’s seafood industry, was joined by Mairi Gougeon, Rural Affairs Secretary, to discuss the key programmes which aim to cement the globally-renowned quality of Scotland’s seafood – and potentially triple the value of the sector’s sidestreams.
Inspired by the success of the Iceland Ocean Cluster, The Scottish Ocean Cluster represents a groundbreaking collaborative effort between Seafood Scotland, Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), Opportunity North East, Aberdeenshire Council, and Zero Waste Scotland.
And, following its official launch earlier this year, the Cluster has reached a key milestone – as almost 60 cross-sector organisations have pledged support for the initiative, which aims to drive up to three times more value from existing marine resources through innovative biotech applications, new product development, and zero-waste practices.
Donna Fordyce, Chief Executive of Seafood Scotland, said: “Seafood Expo Global is the perfect platform to not only showcase some of Scotland’s finest seafood businesses, but also to unveil transformational projects that showcase the ingenuity and ambition of our sector.
“The Scottish Ocean Cluster exemplifies industry collaboration, and the forward-thinking mindset needed to propel our sector into a more sustainable and prosperous future. It’s about working smarter with what we already have and ensuring Scotland remains a global leader in seafood innovation and excellence.”
Also officially launched at SEG 2025 is the SQL scheme – a membership-based programme designed by the industry to enhance the consistency and overall quality of Scottish langoustine. Developed in collaboration with fishers and processors and backed by Scottish Producers’ Organisations (POs) with an interest in the langoustine fishery, the scheme sets a new standard for best practice in handling, processing, and traceability.
Driven by post-Brexit and post-Covid challenges and informed by feedback from key European buyers, the SQL scheme ensures Scotland’s langoustines retain premium status in global markets while recognising and rewarding those in the supply chain who commit to maintaining the highest standards.
Kevin McDonell, Chair of Seafood Scotland’s board and CEO of one of the PO’s backing the scheme, said: “The launch of the Scottish Quality Langoustine scheme reinforces Scotland’s position as a global leader in premium seafood. This isn’t about reinventing the wheel; it’s about highlighting and protecting the quality we know exists in our langoustine sector.
“What makes this scheme particularly powerful is that it’s been created by the industry, consulting with fishers. That level of collaboration and ownership has been crucial in building trust, ensuring practical implementation and, ultimately, delivering a scheme that people believe in. It’s a proactive move that demonstrates to our international buyers – particularly in Europe – that Scotland is serious about consistency, quality, and long-term resilience.”
Mairi Gougeon, Rural Affairs Secretary, said: “Seafood Scotland’s attendance at the Expo is an important pillar of their wider international work to elevate the profile of premium Scottish seafood products. As the world’s largest seafood expo, this is a prime opportunity to promote Scotland as a producer of world-class seafood.
“I am delighted to see so many key Scottish seafood companies who are exhibiting this year, alongside a multitude of international companies and organisations in attendance. It has been a real Team Scotland approach with Seafood Scotland, SDI and SG colleagues working closely together to highlight the value of the sector and to support its growth ambitions.
“I welcome the launch of the Scottish Quality Langoustine label. This standard will be the first of its kind in this sector and it will help ensure that Scotland retains its rightful reputation for the highest quality langoustines – maintaining this provenance will be key both at home and as we look to secure new markets for Scottish langoustine.
“I also look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of the Scottish Ocean Cluster. I am hopeful that this will help drive further innovation and sustainability in our seafood, while at the same time maximising the value that we get from those products.”
