Scotland’s best-loved skipper, Jimmy Buchan, is supporting a new education drive to help teach the next generation about the benefits of Scottish seafood and how it reaches our plates.
The star of BBC’s hit show Trawlermen welcomed a group of students from Tullos Primary and Torry Academy to his base at Peterhead harbour on Monday (09 MAY) for a first hand look into what goes on behind the scenes at Europe’s biggest white fish port.
The group of 40 primary seven and S1 students spent the day being shown around the harbour by Jimmy where he gave them an exclusive tour of the fish auction hall, processing plant and net factory, where the nets are made and mended.
Pupils then got stuck into a tasty lunch of fish and chips which was kindly provided by The Fisherman’s Mission.
Speaking after the visit, Jimmy said: “For me, it’s hugely important that the next generation know where their food is sourced from and I was delighted to welcome pupils from Tullos Primary and Torry Academy. They were a very enthusiastic bunch and eager to learn about where the fish they eat comes from.
“As an Ambassador for Aberdeenshire, I firmly believe the seafood just off our shores is the jewel in the country’s food crown. With over 40 year’s experience of fishing in our waters, I know only too well the variety available out there but work still has to be done to address the lack of knowledge.
“Welcoming school groups to the heart of the Peterhead fishing industry means we can engage with youngsters first hand and ensure they know how fish gets from sea to plate and the benefits of having fish in your diet.”
Yvette Dye from Torry Academy said: “As part of a wider project in collaboration with the Seafood in Schools initiative, our pupils have taken part in various activities to learn more about the seafood industry and its links with the North East.
“After experiencing a real day in the life of a fisherman with Jimmy they’ll be presenting their findings back to parents, peers and teachers. We had a wonderful time and look forward to working with Jimmy again in the future.”
After spending over 40 years heading up two teams of fishermen, Jimmy launched his own online business in 2015 called Skipper’s Choice which retails fishboxes directly to consumer. Based in Peterhead, the quality of the catch landed is not only consistently high but the onshore processing facilities are second to none. Jimmy’s customers can rely on five generations of processing and fish smoking knowledge, ensuring that every piece of seafood is selected and prepared by real experts.