SSQC

SSQC Ltd was established as Shetland Seafood Quality Control Ltd in 1985, as an independent quality assurance organisation to maintain and strengthen Shetland's reputation for high quality seafood products. Initially manned by only a single quality control inspector. At the time the company was established, Shetland had an active whitefish processing industry, and a fledgling aquaculture industry. The seafood sector has changed dramatically over the last 20-30 years, the whitefish fleet has decreased significantly, whitefish processing has all but disappeared and the aquaculture industry has increased dramatically both in shellfish and finfish production, as well as processing. However the story of the aquaculture industry particularly salmon has been one of boom and bust. Consolidation which has been steadily occurring within the industry since the mid 1990's, has seen the vast majority of the islands salmon farms, bought up by a small number of multi-national companies. Therefore in the space of 20 years the industry moved from what was initially viewed as a crofting side line, to a global operation predominantly owned outwith the islands. Since its inception the role and services of SSQC, have broadened and expanded both outwith the islands, and into other economic sectors. The company now employs 13 staff and operates in four specialist areas, all of which have some degree of overlap.