Looking back, thinking ahead: Julie Hesketh-Laird
Fish Farming Expert has asked well-known figures in the Scottish salmon farming industry about their high and low points of 2018, and what they hope for in 2019.Today we feature Julie Hesketh-Laird, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO).
What was your best moment / occasion of 2018?
The best moment of the year was when we celebrated record exports of £600 million for 2017, showing the farmed sector was going from strength to strength.
And what was the worst?
The worst was conversely when we realised production levels for 2018 were going to be down, a development which had the potential to undermine - at least in image terms - some of the progress we had made: luckily we know now that production for the following year should be pushing upwards once again.
What's the one thing you'd most like to see happen to benefit salmon farming in 2019?
What we desperately need is a good Brexit deal which allows us to continue tariff-free trade to the European Union: that would be the best result for this coming year.
Tomorrow: Wester Ross Fisheries managing director Gilpin Bradley.
