Seafood Scotland and representatives of Scotland’s government gathered at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain, to highlight the progress made on its new Scottish Ocean Cluser.
Inspired by the Iceland Ocean Cluster, the Scottish Ocean Cluster is a collaboration between Seafood Scotland, Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), Opportunity North East, Aberdeenshire Council, and Zero Waste Scotland.
The cluster was officially launched earlier in 2025, and at Seafood Expo Global, which took place from 6-8 May, they announced that 60 organizations have pledged to support the initiative.
“Seafood Expo Global is the perfect platform to not only showcase some of Scotland’s finest seafood businesses, but also to unveil transformational projects that showcase the ingenuity and ambition of our sector,” Seafood Scotland Chief Executive Donna Fordyce said. "The Scottish Ocean Cluster exemplifies industry collaboration and the forward-thinking mindset needed to propel our sector into a more sustainable and prosperous future. It’s about working smarter with what we already have and ensuring Scotland remains a global leader in seafood innovation and excellence.”
The groups backing the cluster claim it will help “drive up to three times more value from existing marine resources through innovative biotech applications, new product development, and zero-waste practices.” Scottish seafood stakeholders have been pushing to better utilize its fisheries and aquaculture byproducts.
Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon visited Seafood Expo Global to lend support to the cluster, as well as the launch of a new Scottish Quality Langoustine (SQL) Scheme.
“I also look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of the Scottish Ocean Cluster,” Gougeon said. “I am hopeful that this will help drive further innovation and sustainability in our seafood, while at the same time maximizing the value that we get from those products.”
