Fish producers in Grimsby have called on the local council and property owners to renovate the area around the region’s famed smoke houses to stop the town from missing out on the chance of becoming a destination for food tourism.
Producers in the region believe the town is missing out on millions of pounds, given that Grimsby smoked fish was handed a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the European Commission back in 2009.
Local workers and businesses believe it would be beneficial for the council and dock owners to invest in developing the area to house visitor attractions, shops, restaurants and hotels to boost the local economy.
"Traditional smoked fish is in such demand now by top chefs because these days it is used to add flavour to a whole range of seafood dishes," Richard Enderby, Chairman of the Grimsby Traditional Fish Smokers Group, told
Leisure Opportunities"Grimsby has always been a destination for the real foodie but perhaps not your Hyacinth Bouquets' looking for something to impress their guests at a swanky dinner party."
He said the derelict buildings flanking Grimsby's traditional smokehouses "could be utilised to showcase the 150-year-old process of fish smoking in Grimsby, either by moving parts of the process to the empty buildings to make room for viewing areas or to use the empty buildings as shops or restaurants featuring smoked fish and other seafood."
North East Lincolnshire Council has stated that it is keen to support local food tourism, with Labour councillor Mick Burnett telling the BBC that he was happy to talk with local producers about the promotion of the area, revealing that the council wants the "maximum amount of tourism in the borough of North East Lincolnshire".
Over 40 food and drink products have been given a PGI status in the UK, with the UK Protected Food Names Association stating that PGI products generate annual sales of around £1bn.
Products in the UK with the status have legal protection against imitation in all countries under the European Union, with their production limited to areas covered by the status.
PGI products have proved profitable for a number of regions in the UK. The local tourism agency in west Leicestershire is able to peddle two PGI products – the pork pie and Stilton cheese – with its local food tourism industry said to be worth in the region of £60m.
More information on the Grimsby Traditional Fish Smokers Group is available here.
