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Major boost for Scottish shellfish farmers 21 June, 2006 - SCOTTISH shellfish farmers have received a massive £500,000 boost with the installation of brand new production facilities, aimed at propelling the Scottish mussel farming industry to the forefront of the £60m European Market. Blueshell Mussels Ltd based in Shetland - part of the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group (SSMG) - recently launched the new purpose built mussel grading centre which will cater for a total of 14 of Scotland’s shellfish farms. With the capacity to handle in excess of 2000 tonnes per year, the new facility will account for over 60 per cent of Shetland’s shellfish produce – over 80 per cent of which will go on to be SSMG produce, distributed throughout the UK and Europe. As Shetland continues to produce more than 50 per cent of the overall Scottish mussel production, the new facilities are a much needed and welcome introduction. Michael Laurenson of Blueshell Mussels said, “We saw a real need to upgrade the facilities as it came to a point where we were stretched to capacity and had to decide either to cut back on what we were handling or to take the plunge and grow the company. “The obvious decision was to grow the company as the demand for fresh Scottish shellfish is increasing year on year. We have an excellent location, excellent people and excellent machinery. In effect, we’re doing exactly what we did before, except we’re doing it better.” “By offering other farms the grading service, we allow the farmers to remain focussed on their own site production and their ability to grow mussels efficiently – making a better quality of product all round.” The need for bigger facilities arose in 2000 when shellfish production was increasing by on average, 40 per cent a year. The previous facilities were handling up to 1050 tonnes a year and bulging at the seams and as produce continues to increase, new facilities were sought. The new facility has been installed with help from the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), Shetland Council, the Shetland Development Trust as well as a business loan from the Clydesdale Bank. SSMG is the UK's premier producer of finest quality shellfish, supplying most major supermarkets, such as Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons, and Sainsbury as well as wholesalers and restaurants with mussels, oysters and scallops farmed from the crystal clear waters of sheltered sea lochs located along the full length of the West coast of Scotland and Shetland. www.fishfarmer-magazine.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publishes FISHupdate.com, FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.
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