Some of the leading fish and chip businesses from across the UK are set to embark on an educational study trip to North-East Scotland next week as part of the 2016 National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by Seafish.

The 8 finalists from two award categories – Best Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year Awardand Best Newcomer Award – have been invited to take part in the exclusive trip which is organised by awards sponsor Seafood Scotland and funded by The Scottish Seafood Partnership.

During the trip, the finalists will visit the port of Peterhead - a key area within the UK for the landing and processing of whitefish species, accounting for around 79% of all UK whitefish landings - where they will learn about the quality, freshness and availability of fish from the North-East for the fish frying industry and other parts of the UK food sector.

As one of the most efficiently managed and highly regulated industries in Europe, the finalists will see for themselves the way in which sustainability is at the forefront of the Scottish fishing market.

Although traditional skills continue to play a vital role, the finalists will also see the way in which such skills are married together with modern technology and equipment, witnessing first-hand how the future of the trade is evolving. They will also begin to understand the socio-economic importance of Scotland’s busiest port and the wider impact it has on the industry as a whole.

Mel Groundsell, Corporate Relations Director of Seafish, said: "I cannot stress enough the importance of these educational study trips. This trip provides our finalists with a fantastic opportunity to see one of the UK’s busiest fishing ports in action while gaining valuable insight and knowledge from the experts in the field.

"To encourage a sustainable future, it’s vital that fish and chip shops not only serve the best fish and chips but are also aware of supply chains and have a strong understanding of the wider seafood industry. I hope our finalists have a great time and take full advantage of the opportunities that this trip presents.”

Natalie Bell, Trade Marketing Manager of Seafood Scotland, said: "The North-East of Scotland is the main hub of the UK whitefish industry. It has a dedicated, fit-for-purpose fishing fleet, a skilled primary processing sector, a concentration of processing businesses and excellent transport logistics to the rest of the UK, making Scottish whitefish one of the highest quality exports.

"We are looking forward to showcasing the sustainable seafood that is available from Scotland and sharing the heritage of our industry with the finalists attending. We hope they have a fantastic time and gain some new knowledge to take home and share with both their business colleagues and their customers.”

The National Fish & Chip Awards are recognised as one of the most prestigious and respected seafood industry events in the UK. Widely considered as the ‘Oscars’ of the fish frying industry, they celebrate the great British tradition of fish and chips, recognising the best talent, quality and choice offered by fish and chip businesses.

For further information on The National Fish & Chip Awards please visit www.fishandchipawards.com. Follow @FishnChipAwards on Twitter for all the awards news and information.