The SFO participates in various domestic and international initiatives focused on fisheries management and marketing. These include:

Seafood Scotland 

The SFO is a founding shareholder and board member of Seafood Scotland, the Scottish industry-led seafood marketing body. The role of Seafood Scotland is to increase the value of Scottish seafood throughout the value chain by increasing demand at home and abroad. The Seafood Scotland Board consists of representatives from the Scottish seafood catching and processing sectors.

Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG)

The SFO is a member of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG). The SPSG is an industry funded organisation which oversees the certification of Scotland’s main pelagic fisheries to the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label standard.

Scottish Fisheries Sustainability Accreditation Group (SFSAG)

The SFO is also member of the Scottish Fisheries Sustainability Accreditation Group (SFSAG). Similar to the SPSG, the SFSAG is the industry funded organisation which oversees certification of Scotland’s main demersal fisheries to the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label standard.

Fisheries Management and Conservation Group (FMAC)

The SFO is a member of the Fisheries Management and Conservation Group (FMAC), a decision-making body and discussion forum concerned with all issues connected to sea fisheries management in Scotland. FMAC is chaired by Marine Scotland and has representation from the fishing industry, environmental organisations and Marine Scotland Policy and Science. The SFO participates in a number of sub-groups within FMAC, covering topics such as the future catching policy, inshore fisheries and climate change.

Scottish Seafish Advisory Committee (SSAC)

The SFO is a member of the Scottish Seafish Advisory Committee (SSAC). With representation from a variety of sectors within the Scottish seafood industry, the role of the committee is to provide strategic guidance and direction to Seafish in Scotland, as well as formulate proposals for Seafish levy investment in Scotland.

Vessels of the Future Forum (VFF)

The SFO participates in the Vessels of the Future Forum (VFF), a group developed to investigate practical outcomes/steps that can be taken to further reduce the fishing industry’s carbon footprint, reduce fuel costs and demonstrate the carbon smart story about fishing. The group is facilitated by Seafish and has broad membership across the fishing industry, academia, government and boat builders and surveyors.

Finfish Industry Advisory Group (FIAG)

The SFO is an active member in the Finfish Industry Advisory Group (FIAG), a group contributing to the strategic management of UK finfish non-quota species. FIAG currently has representation from fishers, associations, POs, processors and researchers. The FIAG contributes to management of UK finfish fisheries through priority issue groups and by supporting Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) sub-groups.