Seafood Scotland offers 'on-the-ground expert support' for EU bound lorry drivers

Seafood Scotland has bolstered its support for firms hit by Brexit delays after appointing a France-based expert to provide on-the-ground support.

Many Scottish seafood businesses have faced administrative issues and red tape since the UK left the EU. Picture: John Devlin

The organisation hopes that Taylor Calon can help Scottish seafood businesses untangle the administrative issues that have plagued the industry since the UK left the EU.

Lorry drivers facing difficulties moving their seafood through the French port of Bolougne-sur-Mer will be able to contact him directly for “in-person support within 30 minutes”. He will be available throughout the day Monday to Saturday, the industry body added.

Delays to fishing exports following Brexit have been described as “teething problems” by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

Donna Fordyce, chief executive at Seafood Scotland, said: “Taylor has significant experience navigating cross-border logistics. His expertise will be a boon to Scottish seafood exporters and provide ground support from a European standpoint.

“With Taylor’s appointment, we now have a team of experts on both sides of the UK-EU border working to tackle the most pertinent challenges and understand the new business practices that have come into play since January 1. This is the first step in revitalising the sector and getting the Scottish seafood industry back up to pre-Brexit levels of trade.”

Calon added: “The Scottish seafood industry has had an incredibly challenging year, first with the Covid-19 pandemic and then Brexit.

“Thankfully, it seems many of the challenges they are facing are due to administrative issues and I am confident we can try to resolve them. Scottish seafood truly is world-class and I look forward to playing a role in having trade fully operational again to Europe.”

Calon previously worked as a sea-based agent on the DFDS Calais/Dover ferry route, and then as a port agent for the Toulon Chamber of Commerce. He holds a master’s degree in management and international trade from the Universite du Littoral Cote d’Opale, which is located in Dunkirk, France.

News of his hiring follows Seafood Scotland’s recent appointment of Alastair Kennedy and Steve Galloway to provide support to companies from within Scotland.

All three positions are funded through the Scottish Government and Scotland’s Food and Drink’s joint recovery plan.

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