Seafish moves into new premises in Grimsby Europarc – Fishupdate.com

THE new offices for Seafish, the Seafish Industry Authority, were opened yesterday at Grimsby’s Europarc by Austin Mitchell, MP for Great Grimsby and chair of the Parliamentary Fisheries Group.

The move will see 35 Seafish staff working in a new Humberside office equipped with the latest communications and information technology systems. Seafish’s research and development, training and accreditation and legislation departments will all be based in the new office.

During the official ceremony, Austin Mitchell said it gave him great pleasure to open the new premises in Grimsby, the most important centre for seafood production in the country, and acknowledged the high quality work achieved by Seafish to benefit all sectors of the industry.

“In the areas of research, development, new technology, marketing and promotion, the industry has never had a greater need for Seafish,” he said.

“With the fuel crisis and advent of the Marine Bill, the fishing industry will need strong representation and I am confident that Seafish will provide this.”

Seafish Chairman Charles Howeson said: “Our move to new premises in Grimsby is the start of a new era for Seafish, and for the UK fishing industry.

“This industry is stable and profitable: we are committed to improving that profitability, as well as helping the industry to find a long-term future in the UK.”

Chief Executive John Rutherford added: “Grimsby is at the heart of UK seafood processing and it’s important to us to retain a base in this area so that we can better serve many of the companies based here. Although we have staff based all over the UK, this new office, together with our head office in Edinburgh, will be the focal points for our activities.”

Seafish now has 100 staff working for the UK fishing industry, with around 30 of these working from home, and 35 working from offices in Grimsby and Edinburgh. Its services include research and development into fishing techniques and marine sciences, mapping, market research and market insight, economic research, and marketing and communications activity on behalf of the industry.

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