The 2022 mackerel season got underway in the first week of January and Denholm Seafoods is already processing fish caught by its boat partners in the sustainable rich waters of the North Atlantic.

The first landing of Atlantic mackerel (scomber scombrus) by ‘MFV Unity’ on 7^th January was caught in the fishing area west of Shetland, closely followed by landings by ‘MFV Challenge’ and ‘MFV Taits’.

Denholm Seafoods’ quayside plants will be in full production for the next five weeks, processing the catch into various products to customers’ specifications.  Products include whole round, butterfly filleted, headed and gutted mackerel.

Denholm Seafoods recently installed a new quayside fish pump and is an example of the business’ continual investment to maintain the quality of the fish landed at its quayside processing plant.

(Pictured: ‘MFV Taits’ steams at a reduced speed through squally conditions to land its first mackerel catch of the season at Denholm Seafoods’ Peterhead plant.)

Global Seafood Assurances is pleased to announce that several vessels in the UK have recently certified to the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard, including Denholm Seafoods’ partner vessel, Taits.

Read the full update here.

Scotland’s herring and mackerel fisheries are among the most sustainable, according to Chairman of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group, Ian Gatt.

In an article published in The Scotsman newspaper, Ian Gatt explains that Scotland’s pelagic fishery is very carefully regulated and strictly controlled, with scientific stock advice used for the setting of catch levels.

Read more…

After successful sea trials, the ‘Taits’ made the short trip over the North Sea to her home port of Fraserburgh to rig out for blue whiting fishing before heading to the grounds 190 miles west of Ireland.  Skippers William and Peter Tait expressed their full satisfaction with the efficiency of the vessel’s engine room and deck machinery, fish pumping/storage systems and electronics equipment, together with the well-matched fishing gear.

The new vessel is the latest example of the Tait family’s commitment to the pelagic sector that now spans three generations of skippers. The new vessel is expected to land almost exclusively to Denholm Seafoods in Peterhead, thereby continuing to support the fish processing infrastructure in North East Scotland. The new vessel features some of the latest technology to reduce its carbon footprint and maximise fish quality.