Shellfish
BY NICKI HOLMYARD
Building up mussels New markets could be the key to growth for Scotland’s shellfish farmers
A
COMPREHENSIVE, 60-page report inves�ga�ng how Scotland’s shellfish producers can access new markets has just been released by Crown Estate Scotland. It is hoped that alterna�ve markets for farmed Sco�sh shellfish and associated requirements prepared by food industry consultancy SAOS will help the sector to play a bigger role in suppor�ng the economic development of Highland and island communi�es and building Scotland’s blue economy. It comes on the back of produc�on figures showing that the Sco�sh mussel farming sector has more or less flatlined, with only Shetland seeing even moderate growth in mussels. In 2019 6,700 tonnes of mussels were grown in Scotland with a £6.8m value at farmgate, with 71% of produc�on coming from Shetland. Scotland’s ambi�ous “Vision 2030” growth strategy for aquaculture aims to double the size of the overall sector to £3.6bn by 2030. The mussel industry is expected to play its part, with a trebling of capacity by 2030 to around 21,000 tonnes per year. According to the report, sector-wide investment, par�cularly in data capture and analysis, upgrading of current mussel boats and improving skills resources across the supply chain will be required if these targets are to be achieved. Upscaling of produc�on and added-value processing capability will also be required, although it is noted that capacity already exists. For example, maximising use of all exis�ng mussel leases would allow for a significant increase in produc�on. The report highlights three areas for poten�al growth and the diversifica�on of markets, including: • increasing sales to the UK retail and foodservice industry; • diversifying into nutraceu�cal products, as has been successfully achieved in the New Zealand mussel industry; and • ge�ng involved in carbon offse�ng schemes and green investment. “The possibili�es outlined in this report include food produc�on, as well as a host of poten�al markets for Sco�sh shellfish growers to tap in to. We know that diversifica�on can be a key part of futureproofing a sector and this can help deliver real economic benefits to rural communi�es around Scotland,” Alex Adrian, Head of Aquaculture for Crown Estate Scotland told Fish Farmer magazine. He explained that the latest work builds on a previous report commissioned by Crown Estate Scotland, which looked at the cri�cal mass needed for a viable mussel farming business. It also comple-
30
Nicki Holmyard SHELLFISH_v2.indd 30
ments a couple of other studies currently being carried out, which are looking at the feasibility and economics of si�ng large shellfish and seaweed farming opera�ons in Scotland, whether they could be pre-approved and how they might interact with fisheries’ interests. “Large scale means a mussel farm producing at least 700 tonnes of mussels per year and a seaweed farm covering at least one square kilometre. We have been looking at areas such as the Firth of Clyde and the east coast, but if we encourage and facilitate new development, any increased produc�on cannot put pressure on exis�ng markets, so we needed to inves�gate what other opportuni�es there are for the sector,” Adrian says.
Above: Alex Adrian Opposite: Mussels
Expanding the market Most Sco�sh mussel produc�on is des�ned for the UK market and the report suggests that the biggest opportunity to grow the category in the UK is to encourage exis�ng consumers to purchase and eat more, and to a�ract new consumers in the grocery and out-ofhome sectors. Selling online is a par�cular growth sector that has doubled in the past 15 months. Messaging around sustainability and the climate-friendly values of mussels should be strengthened to match developing trends. Displacing imports of mussels from, for example, New Zealand, exploring the frozen mussel category for growth at home and abroad, and tackling the export market are all recommended, making par�cular use of the posi�ve image associated with Sco�sh provenance. Nutra/pharmaceu�cal products Nutra/pharmaceu�cal products (NPD) account for a growing and lucra�ve market. Mussel oil for example, now accounts for 12%
www.fishfarmermagazine.com
12/10/2021 15:03:22