Newly appointed Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food, Robert Goodwill, met with members of the Scottish fishing and farming industries as part of a two-day visit to Aberdeenshire. Minister Goodwill began his visit on Thursday evening, meeting key members of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation to discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the fishing industry.
He then visited Peterhead – the UK’s largest port by landings – early this morning to see the town’s busy fish market in action. This was followed by a tour of a trawler and discussions with processors, skippers and fishermen, who outlined their priorities for the coming months.
Later, he travelled inland to visit Muirton of Barra arable farm, where he held talks with National Farmers Union Scotland. The visit concluded with a trip to ice cream manufacturer Mackies of Scotland, where the Minister saw the company’s cutting edge factory and robotic dairy unit.
Fisheries Minister Robert Goodwill said:
Scotland plays a crucial role in the UK’s fishing and farming sectors - contributing millions to our economy and creating thousands of jobs.
It has been informative to hear directly from industry about the opportunities that lie ahead, and I am looking forward to working closely with both sectors as we leave the EU.
