SHETLAND Seafood Auctions have announced that - following the completion of a successful pilot project - it is now proceeding into the first stage of commercial buying and has already lined up producers of farmed salmon and mussels who will provide product to sell online.

The company has invested in innovative new software that gives seafood buyers the opportunity to purchase Shetland seafood online, at a size and grade to suit and before the fish have even been harvested.

Auction manager Martin Leyland explained: “Our new system is entirely flexible and takes the concept of remote buying to an entirely new level.

“It allows buyers to source whole, gutted or filleted salmon and mussels from quality assured, fully traceable suppliers. In the future cod, halibut and other shellfish will also be available.

“Our island location means we have access to the freshest fish. In fact, buyers placing a bid online at our auction are actually bidding for seafood that is still in the water.

“Harvesting only takes place once a purchase is made and product can be delivered to the UK mainland the very next day.

“I believe that our system will be particularly attractive to the spot market, that is, buyers who are looking for high quality farmed seafood, either in small quantities or to top up larger orders, on a daily or weekly basis.

“The buying process works on normal credit insurance terms and I can organise this on behalf of buyers. It is a very straightforward process to set up and anyone interested should get in touch to find out just how easy it is.

“We will have a supply of farmed salmon available very shortly, with mussels coming online in August. At Shetland Seafood Auctions, we are giving buyers all over the world a direct route to purchasing superior quality seafood from Shetland and that, to me, is a very exciting proposition.”

www.shetlandmarine.com

Posted: 06|13|06 at 8:47 am. Filed under: UK News.