Scotland’s seafood sector is attempting to mitigate the effects of there Covid-19 pandemic by finding new routes to market, setting up home deliveries and arranging private sales to independent retailers.
As with many others in communities all over the UK, one pair of Skye seafood entrepreneurs have taken to helping their neighbours instead of doing their usual work.
Ewen Grant and Janice Cooney have had to stop their popular seafood cruises because of coronavirus, but their second job remains vital – providing a lifeline delivery service to the neighbouring island of Rona.
Ewen and Janice, who is also working as a nurse during the pandemic, usually run half and full-day cruises from Portree to Rona and neighbouring Raasay for up to 12 people on their 40-foot luxury catamaran named Seaflower, serving freshly caught seafood on board.
“The speed at which these businesses have adapted to survive, and to help their close communities which often rely on the seafood sector themselves, is an inspiration…”
They are now delivering supplies to Rona, a one-hour boat trip from their base in Portree, to which has only four residents on the entire island.
Ewan said: “Seaflower is the only way to get essential supplies to an almost deserted but magical island. We’re determined to make sure the resident quartet have all they need during the pandemic.”
Donna Fordyce, interim head of Seafood Scotland, added: “This is another example of the ingenuity being shown by a small business within the wider seafood sector. From fishermen, processors, retailers and tourism businesses built around some of the world’s finest seafood, all are suffering the effects of coronavirus right now. The speed at which these businesses have adapted to survive, and to help their close communities which often rely on the seafood sector themselves, is an inspiration and yet another reason for Scotland’s seafood community to be immensely proud.”
