FISH QUALITY

ShowHide dashboard

Quality of seafood produce is at the heart of daily and long-term decisions at the Port.

Profitability Improved 

The most significant study of recent times, The Seafood Scotland 'Quality At Sea Study', shows that the implementation of quality practices on board white fish vessels ultimately impact on the price achieved. 

Fishing skippers are increasingly convinced that investing in quality practices will increase profit and many factors influence the price achieved at market. However, the study also shows that to consistently achieve prices well above average, vessels must adopt all of the recommended quality practices. 

Price influencing factors: 

Weighing at sea achieved significantly higher prices compared to nominal weighing.

On average, haddock catches weighed electronically at sea  achieved prices 26% above. For smaller box weights, price per kg are higher than the average landing with a good icing score achieved prices well above average for the day (judged using Seafood Scotland quality scoring system).

  • There is a price premium for well gutted fish.

  • Better packed fish achieves above average prices.

Quality System

Construction of the new fish market, part of a £51 investment that included deepening the harbour and strengthening the quayside, underlines Peterhead Port Authority’s commitment to the quality of product being landed and sold, reflecting the findings of a recent study carried out by the Seafish Industry Authority.

This study proved beyond doubt that by meeting the high standards demanded by the consumer and processor through better quality at sea practices, catch prices will usually be higher than average and vessels will recover their investment over a series of landings.

The port is also committed to supporting the Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme, which certifies high standards of crew welfare and responsible fishing practices, and is pursuing the status of the first ever Responsible Fishing Port in conjunction with Seafish.

Seafood Scotland promotes product on the basis of its superior quality from point of capture throughout the supply chain.

www.seafoodscotland.org  can provide more detailed information and the full report on The Economics of Quality at Sea is available from 'Sea Fish Industry Authority' at www.seafish.org.uk

See Also

Fish Market

Fish Market

Sales at the state-of-the-art new Peterhead Fish Market, which opened in mid-2018, commence at 7am daily, Monday to Friday.
FIND OUT MORE