Celebrity fisherman Jimmy Buchan has taken on a new role supporting the Scottish Seafood Association (SSA) and its 70-strong membership.
Mr Buchan, star of the BBC’s Trawlermen series and both skipper and owner of the Peterhead-registered Amity II, said yesterday his appointment as SSA’s business manager was an ideal chance to “continue to raise awareness of our world-class seafood”.
He takes over his new role from Michael Bates, who has joined Seafood Ecosse in Peterhead as technical manager.
Mr Bates will continue to work with the SSA during a transition period to complete ongoing projects and training commitments, while he is also staying on as the association’s group manager for the Marine Stewardship Council chain of custody quality assurance scheme.
But the job of representing the SSA and its members on various industry bodies now falls to Mr Buchan, who brings more than 40 years’ experience as a fisherman and skipper to the role.
SSA chairman David Leiper said: “Michael has been instrumental in taking us to the level we are at today.
“The sector employs more than 6,000 people across Scotland so the need for representation remains of paramount importance.
“Jimmy was the natural choice for this post. He has always been a strong advocate and ambassador for the industry and he has a vast amount of practical experience and understanding of the catching and supply chains, as well as the processing sector.
“At a time when stocks are showing great recovery and with Brexit very much on the agenda, it is vital that processors have a strong voice to safeguard the sustainable, long-term future of our industry. Jimmy’s involvement in this will be invaluable.”
Mr Buchan said: “I am looking forward to taking up this post at a time when change and opportunities are on the horizon.
“I’m passionate about the industry so I was delighted to be appointed to the role and the opportunity it brings to continue to raise awareness of our world-class seafood.
“I look forward to meeting members across Scotland, and building good working relationships with new and old friends alike.”
SSA was formed in 2011 in response to a growing need for a new national body to represent the whole of Scotland’s seafood, processing and trading sectors.
