Last month, Marie-Anne Omnes, Heading of Trade Marketing – Europe, accompanied ten Scottish shellfish industry professionals to the Netherlands for a learning exchange focused on one of Europe’s most renowned shellfish regions.
During the visit, the delegation explored oyster and mussel farms, toured specialist equipment manufacturing facilities, and visited a shellfish hatchery to gain firsthand insight into Dutch production methods. The group also attended the Shellfish Conference in Goes, where research developments and international marketing trends were discussed.
Zeeland is a major European hub for mussel and oyster production, and the trip provided valuable opportunities to share ideas, establish new contacts, and return to Scotland with fresh perspectives and renewed pride in the achievements of the Scottish sector.
We extend our thanks to all participants, with special appreciation to Lindsay Laurenson (Blueshell Mussels) for suggesting the destination, Greg Farquhar (Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group) for local introductions, and Ineke Nijssen for her expert on-the-ground support. Have an idea for a future European learning exchange? We’d love to hear from you