Scotland is set to keep selling more and more of its mackerel to Japan thanks to a renewed trade agreement struck by industry leaders this week.
In the last four years, Scottish mackerel imports to Japan have risen sharply from 2% of the total market to 20%.
Scottish Seafood, the independent trade and marketing body for the nation’s seafood industry, is hoping to grow that trend by sending even more fish to Japan in the coming year.
Suisan Keizai Newspaper/Seafood ScotlandThe new Scotland-Japan mackerel deal launched on Monday is the fourth in four years in a row.
“This growth proves the excellence of Scotland’s seafood specialists, who are committed to providing the highest quality product. I both share and admire their commitment to sustainable fisheries management, too, ensuring these opportunities can be realised now and in years to come,” business minister Richard Lochhead said.
“And it shows what is possible when you tell the world that we are open for business.”
Lochhead and other industry leaders are currently on a trade mission to Osaka and Tokyo where they’ve been trying to flog more mackerel and more Scottish seafood to Japanese markets.
It’s the fourth consecutive year that the team has worked with Aeon to promote Scottish mackerel in its stores.
“We are delighted to be funding this mackerel promotion with Aeon as it will help build upon the significant increase in mackerel sales to Japan we have experienced in recent years,” Robert Duthie, chair of the Scottish Pelagic Processors’ Association, said.
Speaking to STV News, Adam Wing, Seafood Scotland’s head of trade marketing for the UK, Asia and the Middle East, said deals like this “bring certainty” to the market and allow Scottish companies to invest in staff and industry to meet the demand.
“It comes to economic development for the local community,” he said.
STV NewsHowever, the latest continued promotion of Scottish mackerel in Japan has come amid warnings from the Marine Conservation Society that the Northeast Atlantic stock is under threat.
“Mackerel is under immense pressure from fishing activities across multiple nations, and the stock will soon be no longer able to sustain itself,” Alice Moore, Good Fish Guide manager said.
The marine conservation charity said management and enforcement of stocks are “insufficient” amongst countries like Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the UK.
The catch limits set by all parties have consistently exceeded scientifically recommended levels by between 5% and 80% since 2009.
“In recent years (2020 – 2024) [catch limits] were, on average, 39% higher than scientific advice,” MCS said.
“Although actual catches have typically fallen below these TACs, they still exceeded recommended levels by an average of 23% (188,410 tonnes).
Mr Wing wasn’t asked about the MCS report directly, but he said Scottish seafood would like to expand its range beyond mackerel.
“We’d like to bring in salmon and other species into the range,” he said.
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