Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis has told how she is confident Grimsby is “well placed to exploit the benefits of a growing local economy with a specialism in quality seafood” after visiting the town.
Her first factfinding mission to the UK’s seafood capital - a gateway to one of the strongest consumer markets in the world - saw her visit UK specialist Flatish and market leader Young’s Seafood, as well as vital new border control post infrastructure.
Here she gives Business Live her take on what she saw.
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit Grimsby and see a major hub for fish processing in the UK.
Grimsby is steeped in history, with the first modern fish dock opening there in 1856. The town has had a vital role in the buying, selling and freezing of fish produce ever since.
First on my visit, I stopped at the Immingham Border Control Post (BCP). I saw the great work being undertaken to ensure readiness for the next stages of the phased introduction of checks on imports from the EU. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work being done to ensure that Immingham BCP, and others across the country, are ready for when these new checks begin.
I am proud that the UK sets a gold standard for fishing, seafood processing and food quality. I was pleased to meet the Flatfish team and gain insights from one of the many fantastic seafood processors in Grimsby. I saw a wonderful display of fish showcasing the incredible variety and quality of the seafood landed across the UK and then processed and sold from Grimsby.
It was an extremely valuable opportunity to meet locally based processors and seafood industry representatives. I recognised the level of passion in the sector and saw first-hand how the town has a vital role in this nation’s seafood processing industry.
Although it has been a challenging period, there are many exciting opportunities ahead now that we are an independent coastal state. The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme opened in April and has already committed over £3 million to eligible projects across England. The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme will provide financial assistance for projects that support sustainable growth in the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, and enhance the marine environment.
I met with Young’s Seafood chief executive Simon Smith and was pleased to hear of the recent investment in the Grimsby area, particularly the boost to employment opportunities. Young’s supply a large proportion of the fish eaten in the UK and have produced fantastic job creation, recently announcing 75 new jobs in addition to the 400 roles that were created at the start of the year to meet demand. We also discussed investment in the sector and the promotion of our world class industry with local processors, importers and exporters.
I’m confident that Grimsby is well placed to exploit the benefits of a growing local economy with a specialism in quality seafood. I hope this real change in consumer trends encourages future growth and job development so we can watch our exceptional seafood sector grow from strength to strength.
