Crown Estate Scotland
This week, the Scottish shellfish cultivation industry gathers at Oban’s Corran Halls for the annual “Scottish Cultivated Shellfish – Assuring Value” conference, featuring two days of expert insights and discussions aimed at supporting and advancing Scotland’s shellfish sector.
The conference is organized by the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, and is sponsored by Crown Estate Scotland and seafood trade organizations Seafood Scotland and Seafish.
The event kicks off today with a lineup of presentations spanning topics from maximizing marine estate value, with insights from The Crown Estate Scotland, to learning from international shellfish leaders.
Sessions include perspectives on the Chilean mussel industry, led by St Andrews Co. from Chile’s Chiloe, and a Seafood Scotland-led panel examining trends in the French shellfish market. Seafood specialist Nicki Holmyard is also due to speak on cultivated shellfish in today's seafood marketplace, while the Marine Conservation Society will provide an environmental NGO’s perspective on the sector’s future.
The second day of the conference is due to cover new research and potential applications for Scotland’s blue mussels as a versatile food ingredient, as well as considering the future of native oysters, among other topics.
The event will also include technical updates from service providers, including the latest on buoyage systems, substrates, and aquaculture technology, as well as hands-on experience with cutting-edge biotoxin monitoring from AquaBC and insights from recent biotoxin research conducted by CEFAS and Robert Gordon University.
A key highlight of the annual conference is the “Best Scottish Shellfish” competition, sponsored by Highlands & Islands Enterprise, where businesses vie for top honours with judging by experts from M&S, SAGB, and The Fishmongers’ Company.
Beyond the conference itself, attendees have the opportunity to engage in specialized training and networking through side-events, such as a biotoxin training session hosted at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory and a workshop for early-career researchers in shellfish cultivation, hosted by the Roslin Research Institute. This workshop aims to foster collaboration in research to address industry-driven needs, supported by an award of up to £10,000 from The Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust.