Tag: UK Fish Trade

The 2024 recipients of the Master Fishmonger Standard were celebrated at a prestigious luncheon at Fishmongers’ Hall on Monday, November 18, marking a new era for the programme. This distinguished event, hosted by the Fishmongers’ Company, recognised the exceptional skills and dedication of fishmongers across the UK. Eleven outstanding individuals were awarded from across the 5 Master Fishmonger Standard tiers, in a ceremony that highlighted their commitment to the craft, sustainability, and excellence in the seafood industry.

The Master Fishmonger Standard, recognises of the highest levels of skill and professionalism in fishmongering, and is now managed by the Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance (SGHA). SGHA’s stewardship ensures that the award continues to evolve, meeting the demands of a modern and sustainable seafood sector. The move to SGHA’s management reflects the growing influence and commitment to fostering excellence and sustainability within the seafood supply chain.

Eleven Fishmongers Awarded for Excellence

This year, 11 exemplary fishmongers were presented with the Master Fishmonger Standard, recognizing their expertise in sourcing, preparing, and selling seafood to the highest standards. The recipients, selected through rigorous assessments, are leaders in their field and exemplify the qualities that define the Master Fishmonger title: a profound understanding of fish, superior craftsmanship, and dedication to the principles of sustainability.

Four fishmongers, CJ Jackson, Hayden Cutting, Sue Mackenzie and Graham Osborne received their Master Fishmonger certification, whilst Lee Cooper was rewarded with the Companion Fishmonger Award, recognising lifetime achievement in the trade.

“We are thrilled to see the Master Fishmonger Standard flourish under the management of the Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance,” said Julie Waites, Programme Lead for the Master Fishmonger Standard. “This year’s awards ceremony is a testament to the hard work and passion of the fishmongers who received the accolade. Their dedication to the craft and their customers is a beacon of excellence in the seafood industry.”

The Master Fishmonger Standard is not just about technical proficiency but also a commitment to the highest levels of customer service, ethical sourcing, and the promotion of quality seafood. Those awarded the standard are recognised not only for their skill but for their ability to educate and inspire customers about the value of sustainably sourced, fresh seafood, to support a thriving, profitable and sustainable industry for generations to come.

Showcasing UK seafood talent on the world stage

Over the past two years in partnership with the Seafood Grimsby and Humberside Alliance, the Company has been supporting the seafood processing sector to develop the skills of its future leaders through an industry focused careers programme which has now run in Grimsby and Scotland.

This programme was featured this year’s Responsible Seafood Summit, co-hosted by Seafood Scotland in St Andrews, where the special session ‘Seafood Needs Talent’, showcased training offerings provided to young industry leaders in the UK to a global audience. Lauren Flett from the large Grimsby-based whitefish wholesaler Fastnet spoke about her experiences in the programme, which is supported by the Company’s Fisheries Trust.

Lauren said “I’m thrilled to have participated in the careers programme in Grimsby. The Future Seafood Leaders course was incredibly educational; hearing from experts across every part of the seafood industry opened my eyes to the wide range of career paths available. I’ve been able to bring new insights back to Fastnet and apply them directly to my work. Presenting in front of a global audience at St. Andrews has been truly inspiring, and I’m excited to use my deeper industry knowledge to support our UK operations. This experience has fuelled my passion for the future, sparking an eagerness to keep learning. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and believe that all companies should invest in young talent to help secure the future of the seafood industry”.

Our modern membership shine in industry fora in connection to our namesake trade

The business of seafood is complex and global, and while it’s hard to imagine the similarities between wild capture fisheries in Namibia and Iceland, or prawn farms in the USA and Vietnam, scratch the surface and there is much in common across the world, with sustainably, worker rights, animal welfare, processing, value adding, and marketing all presenting opportunities to share knowledge, collaborate and improve the sector. Members of our Livery are embedded in this global industry, and often feature in media and industry press and events, leading dialogue around the future and sustainability credentials of the seafood sector.

This October, members took centre stage among conference highlights at this year’s Responsible Seafood Summit, co-hosted by Seafood Scotland in St Andrews.

Liveryman Libby Woodhatch detailed her work improving global and local fisheries to achieve sustainability objectives and zero waste. Liveryman Kara Brydson showcased her towards NetZero UK fishing vessels, and Liveryman John Goodlad advised on sustainable ocean investment as part of an interesting panel discussion on the place of Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies in the seafood sector.

Also this October, Liveryman and oyster farmer Dr Andy Woolmer and Freeman and Chief Executive of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain David Jarrad could be caught on the West Coast of Scotland embedded in the annual Scottish Shellfish Growers Conference, where David was involved in the serious business of judging the best Scottish oysters and mussels for 2024.

The work of our Fisheries Charitable Trust popped up in many places at both conferences, including in contribution to the new Seafood Carbon Calculator tool, in supporting knowledge exchanges and scientific studies, and fostering education and academic engagement with our namesake trade.

The Company, the Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance and Seafish Industry Authority hosted a webinar this week introducing the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool to a range of seafood suppliers, processors, and retailers. The tool, launched at Fishmongers’ Hall in January, enables users to quantify the carbon emissions in their product supply chains, identify hotspots, and demonstrate seafood’s position as the lowest carbon source of animal protein. Importantly, this tool has been backed by all of the major seafood processors in the UK, an example of the pre-competitive collaboration driven by the SGHA, that places the seafood industry in an advantageous position compared to other sectors of the food industry, where multiple emissions calculators can be found for individual products.

The webinar provided an in-depth demonstration of the Tool, highlighting its advanced features for calculating carbon emissions across the seafood supply chain. Simon Smith, Chairperson of SGHA and vice-chair of Sofina Foods Europe, welcomed participants who received a comprehensive walkthrough of the tool’s capabilities from Seafish Head of Responsible Sourcing, Dr Stuart McLanaghan. Tom Maidment, Group Product Sustainability Senior Manager at Hilton Food and Ruth Hoban, Head of Sustainability at New England Seafood International then delivered two case studies of the Tool’s application to wild caught and farmed seafood, showcasing the Tool’s application to two major seafood supply chains.

Cassie Leisk, Planet and People – Group Director at New England Seafood remarked- “Achieving industry-wide alignment on carbon measurement practices will greatly benefit the seafood sector as a whole. By adopting a consistent approach, we can more effectively communicate seafood’s low carbon footprint compared to other animal proteins, while also targeting areas for further emissions reduction. Reaching this key milestone in our SGHA carbon journey is an exciting step, and we look forward to ongoing collaboration with our suppliers and customers to drive progress on this critical issue.”

The webinar was supported and facilitated by the Fishmongers’ Company as part of their long-standing commitment to a thriving, sustainable UK seafood industry.

To access the webinar recording, please click here. To find out more about the Tool please click here.

Four new recipients of the Master Fishmonger Standard (MFS) were congratulated this month, as they completed their assessments to recognise their skills in the fishmongering trade. These marked the first candidates to pass since Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance became the new custodians for the scheme. 

The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charities Communication Manager, Gavin O’Donnell, congratulated the recent accredited MFS candidates: ‘To be recognised by the MFS, a candidate has to not only demonstrate excellent knife skills but also knowledge of species, sustainability, and customer communication, a huge congratulations to our candidates for showing such commitment and passing the vigorous assessments, truly deserved’ 

Sue Mackenzie, owner of The Fish Shop; Passionate about Fish Ltd, and CJ Jackson from Billingsgate Seafood School received their accreditation for the Master Tier of the Master Fishmonger Standard. Alan Brinck; a fishmonger for Waitrose and Joe Hembrough from The Menai Seafood Company, achieved the Recognised Tier of the Master Fishmonger Standard.

On receiving notification of his Award, Alan said ‘I am pleased to be accepted as an MFS Recognised Fishmonger and look forward to engaging with everyone in the future’.

Chris Parker, Wales Seafood Cluster Manager, said: ‘As an assessor for The Master Fishmonger Standard, I find it incredibly rewarding to witness first-hand how this program promotes exceptional knowledge, craftsmanship, and high standards in the industry. Congratulations to our recent candidates—your awards are well-deserved!’  

Passionate about fish and the environment, while upholding the heritage and craftmanship of the fishmonger trade, the Master Fishmonger Standard celebrates professional excellence by certifying fishmongers with extensive professional skills and knowledge.

The MFS was developed by The Fishmongers’ Company in 2018 and is supported by a number of influential members of the fish trade, not least the National Federation of Fishmongers. As an ancient Guild, The Fishmongers’ Company has a historic interest in helping to preserve and commend the fishmonger trade and support those who have adapted to a progressive industry.

Keen to encourage career progression and foster career-long working relationships, the MFS recognises achievement for both new and highly experienced fishmongers through five certification tiers. The ultimate accolade for working fishmongers is the MFS Master Fishmonger tier, whilst the MFS Companion recognises and rewards outstanding lifetime achievements in the fishmonger trade.

The MFS aims to bring to life the craftmanship of fishmongers by communicating rich and authentic stories and, in doing so, hopes to empower consumers to strive towards and seek out excellence.

The Fishmongers’ Company and Made Great In Grimsby Seafood Cluster recently embarked on a landmark visit to North East Scotland that included visits to the bustling Peterhead Fish Market and Fraserburgh Harbour plus engagement with key fishing businesses in the area. This visit hosted by The Scottish Seafood Association and The Fishmongers’ Company marks a significant step in fostering stronger ties and collaborative opportunities between two of the UK’s leading seafood hubs.

The delegation, composed of prominent members of the Fishmongers’ Company and Grimsby Seafood Cluster, was warmly welcomed by representatives from the North East fishing industry. The visit included a comprehensive tour of the Peterhead Fish Market, the largest whitefish market in Europe, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and sustainable fishing practices.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to visit Fraserburgh Harbour and Peterhead Fish Market and meet with the vibrant fishing community here,” said Andrew Wallace, Fisheries Director, The Fishmongers’ Company. “This visit not only strengthens our relationship with the area but also provides invaluable insights into best practices and innovations in the seafood supply chain.”

During the visit, the Grimsby delegation engaged in productive discussions with local fishing and seafood processing businesses, sharing best practice of the successful Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance organisation, exploring areas for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and potential partnerships. The meetings focused potential closer working relationships between the UK’s two major fisheries and seafood processing hubs.

“North East Scotland and Grimsby share a rich heritage in the seafood industry, and this visit underscores our mutual commitment to promoting great sustainable seafood and fish products along with health and consumption. ” said Jimmy Buchan, CEO of The Scottish Seafood Association. “We look forward to continuing this dialogue and working together to ensure the future prosperity of our fishing communities.”

The visit concluded with a commitment to ongoing communication and collaboration between the two regions. Both parties expressed optimism about the potential for joint initiatives that can benefit the broader UK seafood industry.

Around one third of the Icelandic economy revolves around the Fish Trade – and much of their sustainable whitefish makes its way directly through the port of Grimsby and on to UK consumers, via wholesalers, retailers and the food service sector – including much of the sustainable cod served in our UK fish and chip shops.

In April 2024 a team from Fishmongers’ went to Iceland to visit these sustainable fisheries at source – speaking with the catching and processing sector at Brim, the Icelandic government’s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, the innovators behind the Iceland Ocean Cluster, and the rapidly evolving on-land salmon farming industry.

Drawing threads together, the team visited diplomats at the British Embassy in Reykjavík, where the Prime Warden Fred Stroyan hosted a Seafood Industry Reception alongside British Ambassador Bryony Mathew. This evening event, featuring British sparkling wine paired with Icelandic seafood, was well attended by people working across government and industry in Iceland, including the new-in-post Icelandic Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir.

The Prime Warden is no stranger to Iceland, having long standing import relationships with the whitefish sector. The visit gave him a chance to draw the work of our Fisheries Charitable Trust closer to the innovation and sustainable practices of the Icelandic industry. Alongside the Prime Warden, Nigel Bankes, Court Member and Chair of the Fisheries Committee, led the Fishmongers’ team which also included Clerk Toby Williamson, Fisheries Director Andrew Wallace, and Programme Manager Eleanor Adamson. They were accompanied by Simon Dwyer of the Seafood Grimsby and Humberside Alliance (SGHA), who is working closely with the Fisheries Charity to boost our contribution and impact with the UK’s on land fish trading and processing sectors.

Gunnar Örlygsson, a key figure in the Icelandic seafood industry and long-time associate of the Prime Warden facilitated the visit, introducing the team to a wide cross section of those relevant to the Icelandic Seafood trade.  Alongside his wife Dunna Johannsdottir, they ensured that the Team experienced the spectacular scenery as well as the fish industry!

Fisheries Director Andrew Wallace said “This has been an eye opening and inspiring experience. The relationships cemented here will be a great asset as we grow our impact in the regional coordination of sustainably managed capture fisheries, and also in shaping our thinking about how we can best push forwards innovation on land, to support new ideas, products and value chains that fully utilise the fish we catch”.

SGHA’s Simon Dwyer said “I firmly believe the ‘Grimsby’ link with Iceland and fish is further solidified with Fishmongers’ Company engagement. I felt the meetings with producers, Government departments and the Iceland Ocean Cluster in particular, presented further opportunities for SGHA to engage with our key trading partner. The discussions around school engagement, skills, science, carbon and start-ups leaves lots of new opportunities.”

Members of the Livery Dan Aherne, CEO of New England Seafood and Libby Woodhatch, Executive Chairman of the Marin Trust, have been recognised in Intrafish’s guide to the 100 most influential executives working in the seafood industry today.

The Seafood Power 100 list recognises those who have made significant contribution to innovation, sustainability and profitability in our namesake trade.

Dan Aherne of New England Seafood, founded by our current Prime Warden Fred Stroyan, has been recognised for their work in connecting with UK consumers and driving domestic demand for seafood.

Libby Woodhatch has been recognised for her work at the Marin Trust, an international certification scheme program for marine ingredients, a “blind spot” in the seafood supply chain. The schemeworks to improve standards in the international fishmeal and oil industry, focusing on the factories bringing the product to market and assessing the fisheries that supply them, certifying 48% of average global production in the last five years.

Simon Dwyer, executive of the Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance (SGHA), whom the Company helped to found and is a key working partner in our support for the UK seafood trade, has also been recognised. The SGHA, who’s members make up approximately 60% of the UK seafood processing trade has been instrumental in supporting the industry to navigate the challenges of the pandemic and Brexit and has secured millions of pounds in government funding to support training and careers in the sector as well as driving sustainability and innovation.

The Company welcomed welcomed the UK Minister for Food, Fisheries and Farming, Mark Spencer and the Norweigan Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Cecilie Myrseth, to the Hall when hosting the Norwegian Seafood Council annual conference. Both Ministers addressed the conference and spoke warmly of bi-lateral trade and shared fishing opportunities and joined stakeholders from the seafood sector and related industries, from fishing fleet, seafood producers and exporters, to importers, suppliers, retail, food service and media.  

The Ministers met Prime Warden Fred Stroyan and Fisheries Director Andrew Wallace, alongside representatives of Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance (SGHA), who have worked tirelessly over the past three years with the seafood sector in Norway and ministerial departments in London and Oslo to smooth future trade flows since the introduction of the Border Target Operating Model. 

Andrew Wallace, Fishmongers’ Company Director of Fisheries and SGHA board member, remarked: “This is the second year in a row we have hosted this conference at Fishmongers’Hall and it is always enlightening to hear about the importance of bi-lateral seafood trade and fisheries between our fishing nations. The Alliance board, which is headquartered in Grimsby, have been very focused on developing seafood trade opportunities with Norway and it was a great opportunity to share some thoughts on this with our respective Ministers and their officials”

Major Norwegian seafood exporter, Nordic Group AS, represented by Managing Director, Morten Hyldborg Jensen, commented “Over recent years we’ve had a warm, friendly and successful dialogue with our colleagues in Grimsby led by Simon Dwyer. We were delighted when Simon brought a delegation from the UK to visit our landing stations in Batsfjord, Norway, last May to see hands on our fish landing and processing facilities. This conference is always a great networking opportunity for both Norwegian and UK seafood businesses and various stakeholders.”