Sector optimistic as £20mil sales forecast ahead of world's largest seafood fair

A record year is forecast as demand for quality Scottish produce continues to outstrip supply. The value of business generated from the exhibition has increased year-on-year recently, rising from £16m in 2007 to £20m in 2009.

Sales resulting from last year’s attendance were generated from around £400,000 of public/private investment in the Scottish Pavilion, providing a direct return to the Scottish economy of £50 for every £1 spent.

 Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said the ESE is the perfect platform to showcase Scotland’s seafood: “Our fishing and aquaculture sectors have worked hard to earn a reputation for quality, and the time has come to turn these plaudits into profits.”

 17 companies representing the pelagic, whitefish, shellfish and salmon sectors will be present on the Scottish Pavilion, including several with increased stand sizes compared with previous years.

Helping to attract international buyers to the Scottish Pavilion is a Seafood Bar, hosted by Seafood Scotland, where chefs from the Federation of Chefs Scotland expect to serve more than 15,000 samples of Scottish seafood.