The head of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has said lockdown being lifted in Europe will provide much needed relief for sector.
Elspeth Macdonald said the restrictions have crippled shellfish producers, who rely heavily on the hospitality sector.
Some have had to cease business whilst fisherman who trade in whitefish such as cod or haddock have experienced a very volatile market place.
However, with a number of countries now beginning to relax the restrictions, there is a “glimmer of hope” for the industry beginning to emerge.
Ms Macdonald said: “We have seen a timetable set out by the Spanish Government on how they intend on opening businesses like cafes and restaurants, it is probably a long way from being a green shoot of recovery.
“But it is a glimmer of light and a way forward, we are hopeful that as businesses both home and abroad re-open we will see an increase whilst sticking to social distancing.
“Any movement back to a new normal will be very welcome.”
Markets and industries across the world have all felt the effects of coronavirus.
With the lockdown further limiting business openings, the fishing industry has felt the squeeze more than most.
Ms Macdonald added: “Domestic demand has held up quite well, the continental market has been variable it was a very good market in the run up to Easter but has been very unpredictable since then.
“We have had a couple of weeks of quite poor prices and unpredictable demand, possibly related to the various holidays taking place in May.
“It has been hard across the industry to plan what demand will be so we have all been working hard to ensure that the supply can match the demand that is there.”
Discussions between the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and the Scottish Government have been ongoing to ensure that the industry and those who work in it remain protected both physically and financially.
She added: “I think in Scotland the government has moved very quickly to support the seafood industry, work has been done to support not just the catching side but also processing and aqua culture.
“Something, I think, that perhaps shows the importance of which the Scottish Government sees the industry within the country’s economy.”
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick said another challenge would be ensuring there is a way for products to reach customers.
He said: “The challenge we have is actually getting those goods to market. A lot of our exporters through the chamber who use our export documentation services are telling us there is some demand for what they are selling but there isn’t physically the freight capacity to move those goods to where they need to be.
“That is a big challenge now for all of us to make sure that when there is demand for product we physically have a way to get that to overseas markets in time to satisfy that demand.”
