A senior Scottish industry figure has warned of a difficult year ahead for the industry, with signs of static or lower fish prices and rising fuel costs putting pressure on operating margins.
Iain MacSween, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Organization – the United Kingdom’s biggest seafood producer organization – says the current economic downturn is also a cause for concern.
“With the euro zone hanging on by its fingertips, thanks largely to quantitative easing by the European Central Bank, there are signs that the industry will face a difficult financial year, although low interest costs are a real benefit,” he said.
He added that whilst domestic whitefish prices have been on a roller coaster this year, the more worrying signs are the falling international prices for cod in particular.
