Scottish North Sea herring season gets underway

The North Sea herring season is now getting into full swing, with approximately fifteen Scottish pelagic vessels currently fishing and most of the rest of the fleet expected to put to sea shortly, according to the Scottish Pelagic Processors’ Association (SPPA). The fishery has so far taken place to the east of Shetland and Fair Isle.

The association noted that fishing was slow to begin with but is now picking up. The fish being caught are reported to be over 200 grams in weight, making them ideal for the fillet market. Robert Duthie, Chairman of SPPA, confirmed the quality of the initial landings, stating, “The first catches of North Sea herring have been excellent quality, which bodes well for the coming weeks.”

The roe fishery is expected to take place later in the season and into September around the traditional spawning areas, the association stated. Herring is a popular product in several key export markets for the Scottish industry, including the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and the Baltic states.

SPPA said that the North Sea herring fishery is the only one of its kind in the north-east Atlantic that is independently certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for its sustainable and responsible fishing practices. It added the fishery was first certified in 2008 and is one of the longest-running MSC-certified fisheries in the UK.