Stevenson Visits Whitehills Fish Processor With Local MP

SNP candidate for Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson was joined by Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford on a visit to award-winning Whitehills fish processor Downies of Whitehills.

Mr Stevenson and Dr Whiteford met with Managing Partner Mr Alan Downie and Factory Manager Mr Alan Stewart and discussed current issues facing the fishing and fish processing industries.

Speaking afterwards, Stewart Stevenson commented:

(l to r): Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP; Alan Downie, Managing Partner;
Stewart Stevenson; Alan Stewart, Factory Manager

“It is always a pleasure to visit Downies of Whitehills. The team here have a commitment to their community, to their customers and to their workforce which is second to none.

“We had a good discussion about some of the current issues facing the industry. The continuity of supplies of fish is clearly an issue of some concern, as it is for other companies. The reality is that this is just another example of the failure of the Common Fisheries Policy to deliver for the industry and, instead, is a source of real difficulties for fishermen and fish processors alike.”

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford added:

“Downies have been here for over 100 years and have a great reputation locally and much further afield for the quality of their seafood products, which are now available online.

“However, I can think of no other industry that has its hands tied in terms of not being able to plan ahead more than 12 months than the fishing industry, dictated to by the annual European negotiations every December.

“At a time when Scottish fishermen are leading the rest of Europe in sustainable fishing practices, we need Westminster to step back and allow the Scottish Government to take the lead in our dealings with Brussels.”