Scottish Ocean Cluster will foster collaboration between stakeholders committed to maximising the value created by Scotland’s seafood industry. This initiative will bring together producers, processors, entrepreneurs, investors, biotech companies, educators, researchers, retailers, government and more—all working collectively to unlock the full potential of fish and seafood by-products.
The Scottish Ocean Cluster
We seek to build on the success of the Iceland Ocean Cluster model, adapting it to the Scottish context to increase the valorisation of high-value seafood side streams, share best practice, and harness emerging opportunities, including:
1. Collaboration and innovation – bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and more to develop high-value side stream value chains.
2. Market development and awareness – identifying opportunities and raising awareness of the potential for creating sustainable, value-added products.
3. Economic growth and job creation – increasing the economic value of the seafood sector while generating skilled, high-paying jobs across Scotland, particularly in coastal communities.
4. Industry sustainability and resilience – strengthening Scotland’s seafood sector by driving long-term innovation, investment, and future opportunities.
Key Outputs
The Scottish Ocean Cluster aims to deliver the following key outputs:
1. Increased profits and productivity – maximising the value of seafood side streams, creating new high-value markets and building processor resilience.
2. Improved environmental sustainability – promoting 100% utilisation of fish, including high-value by-products currently discarded at sea, such as langoustine heads and white fish viscera.
3. Entrepreneurship and job creation - driving innovation, increasing start-up activity, and expanding bio-manufacturing in Scotland, generating skilled, high-paying jobs, particularly in coastal communities.
4. Improved food security - converting more high-value by-products into food products like fishcakes and fish fingers, reducing reliance on imports.
5. Attraction of funding and investment – strengthening the blue economy by securing investment and fostering economic development across the Scotland.
Could a Scottish Ocean Cluster Benefit Your Organisation?
We invite you to your express interest in the development of the Scottish Ocean Cluster. Your backing will help demonstrate strong stakeholder demand to potential funders and partners, including the Scottish Government.
Email us at enquiries@seafoodscotland.org to register your interest.