From Sea to Plate: A Visit to QA Fish, Scalloway
At No 88 we’re passionate about serving great food, and we believe that starts with knowing where our ingredients come from and, just as importantly, the people behind them.
Recently, John and I had the pleasure of visiting QA Fish in Scalloway, one of our valued fish suppliers here in Shetland. We were welcomed by Robert, who took us on a fascinating tour of the factory, giving us a real insight into the work, skill and care that goes into preparing some of the wonderful seafood we serve at the restaurant.
From live auctions to computer bidding — and family memories
Robert started our visit by showing us how fish auctions work today. It was fascinating to see how the process has changed over the years, with the modern system using computerised bidding, known as the Dutch auction system.
Robert and I got talking about the days when fish auctions were conducted live, with auctioneers calling out the bids and buyers competing to secure their fish. Robert told me that he was one of the last auctioneers before the system changed over to computerised bidding.
Our conversation also brought back some family memories, as my granny, Matilda, used to fillet fish for Icelandic. Robert and I talked about this too, which made the visit even more special for me. It was lovely to connect my own family history with the fishing industry that has played such an important part in life here in Shetland for generations.
It was a reminder that the fishing industry is about so much more than the fish itself. It’s about the people, the families, the skills passed down through generations and the stories that connect our community.
Having Robert share his experiences, while also being able to talk about my granny's working life, made this part of the visit particularly memorable. It brought the history of the industry to life and reminded me just how deeply fishing is woven into Shetland’s identity.
A fantastic variety of Shetland seafood
During our visit, we got to see an incredible range of fish and seafood, including monkfish, cod, haddock, halibut, hake, John Dory, turbot and lobster.
Seeing the variety of seafood being handled and prepared gave us an even greater appreciation of the quality of the produce available right here in Shetland. It was wonderful to learn more about the processes behind the scenes and the people who help bring these fantastic ingredients from the sea to our kitchen.
The people behind the produce
During our visit, we also met David, who works at QA, smoking the fish. David starts work at 5am to make sure the job gets done, which really brought home to us the dedication and hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
It’s easy to enjoy beautifully prepared fish on a plate without always thinking about the people, time and skill involved in getting it there. Meeting David gave us a real appreciation of the commitment that goes into preparing the seafood we are so fortunate to serve at No 88.
It’s people like David, along with the whole team at QA Fish, who make such an important contribution to the quality of the products they supply. We loved getting a glimpse into their working day and seeing first-hand the hard work that goes into what they do.
Nothing goes to waste
One of the things that impressed us most about QA Fish was their commitment to making use of absolutely everything they can. Their approach to reducing waste is genuinely impressive, with different parts of the fish and seafood being put to a variety of uses rather than simply discarded.
For example, fish heads are shipped to a customer further south, while fish scraps are used as bait. Even scallop shells have a purpose, being ground down for use as fertiliser as thay are a rich source of lime.
It was brilliant to see how much thought goes into making the most of these valuable natural resources. It’s a great reminder that sustainability isn’t just about where our food comes from, but also about how responsibly we use it.
We came away really impressed by the fact that so little goes to waste and that even the parts we might not ordinarily think about have a valuable purpose. There is clearly a great deal of thought and care involved in making the most of the seafood they work with.
More than a business — part of the community
Something else that really stood out to us is the important role QA Fish plays in the local community. As a Scalloway business, they provide vital jobs for local people, helping support families and livelihoods in the area. Businesses like this are such an important part of keeping our local communities thriving.
As is often the case here in Shetland, there was a lovely personal connection too! Coincidentally, Robert went to school with my cousin Kevin and knows my Aunty Tizzy really well.
It just goes to show how closely connected everyone is in our island communities, where business and personal relationships often go hand in hand. It made the visit feel even more special, reminding us that when we support local businesses, we’re also supporting people and communities we know and care about.
Supporting our local suppliers
Visits like this really bring home how important our local suppliers are to what we do at No 88. Behind every plate of seafood is a team of people with knowledge, experience and a real understanding of the product they work with.
We left QA Fish feeling incredibly impressed by what we had seen — from the fantastic range of seafood to their approach to minimising waste, the dedication of their staff and their contribution to the local community.
A huge thank you to Robert for taking the time to show John and I around, and to whole the team for giving us an insight into the work that goes on behind the scenes at QA Fish.
We’re proud to work with suppliers who care so much about their products, their people and their community. Knowing more about the journey our seafood takes before it reaches our kitchen makes us appreciate it all the more.
We look forward to continuing to work with QA Fish and bringing the best of our local seafood to the table at No 88..
From the sea to the plate, it’s wonderful to know the people, passion and community behind our produce.
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