Scots seafood in drive to net more US sales

Scottish seafood companies are looking to take a bigger bite of the American market after fresh salmon exports to the US leapt 36 per cent last year.

Firms from Scotland claimed more than one fifth of the £1 billion US salmon market and are fishing for more customers at the International Boston Seafood Show, which is taking place this week.

Scottish Development International is leading a delegation of 14 Scottish seafood companies to the key annual trade fair.

Despite a growing taste for Scottish salmon in Asia, the US remains by far the most important market, accounting for almost half of the global Scottish salmon exports.

A quarter of Scotland’s salmon output – about 43,700 tonnes – was sent to the US in 2011. The value of all Scottish salmon exports to the US last year – including fresh, frozen and smoked fish – was £211 million.