Voices from Scotland’s seas urge MSPs to pledge support for fishing
Photo exhibition docks at Holyrood bringing focus to nation’s fishing communities
A NEW exhibition highlighting the people and stories behind Scotland’s fishing industry has launched at the Scottish Parliament.
Pride in the Seas 2, created by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), marks the second instalment of the highly regarded, award-winning campaign that first began in 2024.
The exhibition brings together a powerful collection of real-life accounts from skippers, deckhands, analysts and others working across the country’s fishing and coastal sectors.
Hosted in the Burns Committee Room at Holyrood, the launch event was attended by around 80 guests and key stakeholders from across the marine, renewables and seafood industries. Guests heard from sponsoring MSP Tim Eagle, SFF CEO Elspeth Macdonald and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon.
Alongside the exhibition, MSPs were encouraged to sign a renewed political pledge promising to stand up for fishing and the communities the sector supports in light of the election in May.
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands said: “We have seen time and time again the important contribution Scotland’s fishing communities make to the economy and culture of our coastal areas.
“The Pride in the Seas 2 exhibition showcases the incredible people behind this vital industry, and it’s a reminder of the resilience and commitment of the men and women who continue to work on our seas.
“We must continue to work together to ensure these communities thrive and are supported with policies that recognise the full value of their contribution.”
Building on the success of the original Pride in the Seas showcase, this new phase celebrates the resilience, heritage and contribution of those who work in, and depend on the sea in spite of growing pressure on available fishing grounds.
The exhibition features a refreshed collection of photography by award-winning photographer Ian Georgeson, alongside new case studies that span the length and breadth of the Scottish coastline.
Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive with the SFF, said: “The fishing industry is a cornerstone of coastal and rural Scotland, and this exhibition serves as both a celebration of those who make it great and a call to action for the future.
“By showcasing once again the dedication and responsibility of our fishermen, we highlight their role not just as workers, but as stewards of Scotland’s seas.
“Pride in the Seas 2 once again demonstrates the pride, innovation and responsibility that define this sector. While challenges remain, the commitment shown by those working at sea and ashore highlights an industry determined to secure a sustainable future for the next generation.”
Following its debut, the exhibition will be available for tour across towns, schools, museums and other public facilities around the country.
Fighting for the interests of 450 fishing vessels in Scotland’s fleet, the SFF is made up of eight associations which represent the sector from small creel boats to large pelagic and white fish trawlers.
The Pledge:
I pledge to Stand Up for Fishing, supporting Scotland's coastal communities and the sustainable, low-carbon food they provide by:
- Championing fishermen’s safety, so everyone who goes to sea to catch fish and shellfish comes home safe.
- Supporting the best possible fishing opportunities for Scotland’s fleet through annual negotiations and international agreements.
- Supporting practical, realistic and pragmatic fisheries management, and balancing conservation of our seas with sustainable harvesting.
- Supporting a moratorium on any further consents for offshore wind development until the impacts on our sector are addressed in full, including financial compensation.
- Recognising all fishing and coastal communities need to be properly protected throughout the development of Scotland’s new National Marine Plan.
- Supporting more investment in science to ensure we have the right data to underpin decisions and management, recognising fishing’s role in a low-carbon food future.
I will Stand Up for Fishing and the people who put Scotland’s fish and shellfish on our plates, protecting our coastal communities and the wider seafood sector.
Pride in the Seas case studies:
- Jake Hutchison, Skipper in Orkney
- Donald Gibson, Skipper in Troon
- Ally West, Co-skipper in Fraserburgh
- Fahim Hashimi, Offshore Energy Policy Manager, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Aberdeen
- Andrew Innes, Industry Advisor, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation / Part-time Fisherman in Peterhead
- Hannah Fennell, President of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Aberdeen
- Barry Brunton, Owner-operation in Dunbar
- Jack Grieve, Skipper in Eyemouth
- David Watson, Skipper in Peterhead
- Robbie Jamieson, Skipper in Shetland
