Plea for local people to buy seafood, as Brexit continues to damage trade
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One of the area's biggest seafood suppliers has spoken of a ticking time bomb with live shellfish as it awaits the outcome of post-Brexit fish market negotiations.
Due to a 'form-filling' nightmare, Alasdair Hughson of Keltic Seafare has seafoods such as premium quality langoustine, lobster and scallops from boats across the region – but has no idea when he might be able to get it to their market on the continent.
The Dingwall–based wholesaler said that people can buy directly from him, at a great price in order that the product does not go to waste.
Mr Hughson said: "While we await the decision of the government on our group wholesaler's licence to the European markets, we have the catch of 20 to 30 Highlands and Islands boats sitting in our warehouse in Dingwall.
"We had believed that everything was in place to get the product to market, but that has all changed in the last few days. There is no point in sending it to Europe for it only to be stuck on the south coast of England.
"This product is normally for a premium market in places such as Michelin starred restaurants in London and for some of the best establishments in Europe – but due to paperwork difficulties that can only be laid at the door of DEFRA and the HMRC, our distributor in Eyemouth can not take any of our stock at the moment.
"We are managing to keep the shellfish in our state-of-the-art warehouse but at the moment we don't know when we will be able to get it to market."
When asked if there was a possibility of local people buying directly from Keltic Seafare, Mr Hughson, who is the managing director of the company, said: "Yes, we have premium seafoods such as langoustine, scallops and lobster for sale at a very good price.
"We can deliver them around the area, and of course we can send them to people."
Mr Hughson continued: "This has been a difficult time for everyone, but the international market for our highest, world-class product has simply fallen away, firstly due to Covid and now the issues with getting our product into Europe.
"Anyone who would like to buy directly from us can contact us in Dingwall."
Keltic Seafare can be found at https://kelticseafare.com/ or by phone on 01349 864087.
