After 16 years’ service as CEO of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA), Ian Gatt CBE has announced his intention to retire from the role, which has resulted in the SPFA Board appointing well-known Scottish fishing industry figure, Hannah Fennell, as CEO Designate.
Hannah Fennell joins SPFA as CEO Designate on 3 February and will work closely alongside Ian Gatt for the next 12-18 months to familiarise herself with the role before then taking over as CEO.
Ian Gatt (64) has steered SPFA through a challenging period for the Scottish pelagic fishing industry, including international disputes over quota shares and increasing regulation affecting the sector. A former skipper, he was made a CBE in 2024 in recognition of his steadfast work in representing and supporting the fishing industry.
Hannah Fennell (33) has extensive experience of the fisheries sector. She became the first female president of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) in 2023, a role she still holds. She was CEO of the Orkney Fisheries Association (OFA) from 2020 until September 2025, and prior to then was a researcher with the Marine Directorate (previously Marine Scotland) and a researcher with the OFA. She is Chair of UK Women in Fisheries, a trustee of Fishing into the Future and in the final stages of a PhD on fisheries management
Richard Williamson, SPFA chair, paid tribute to Ian Gatt and welcomed Hanna Fennell as CEO Designate.
“Ian has led our sector brilliantly during his tenure and we are delighted that he will continue to do so for the next 12-18 months to ensure Hannah is ready and well-equipped to take over the CEO role,” he said.
“Hannah’s appointment comes at a crucial time for pelagic fisheries as the sector faces a raft of challenges that are not only confined to fisheries management but also wider issues such as the loss of vital fishing grounds to the offshore renewable sector. Hannah will hit the ground running given her leadership experience in fisheries both with the Orkney Fisheries Association and as SFF president.”
Ian Gatt said he was looking forward immensely to working closely with Hannah Fennell during the handover period. “We had an extremely productive working relationship when I was SFF President and Hannah held the role of Vice-President at that time. The SPFA role will be new territory for Hannah but she has tremendous abilities and I am confident she will quickly get to grips with the complexities and intricate nuances of the pelagic sector.”
Hannah Fennell said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of CEO Designate of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association. The pelagic fleet is one of the UK’s most important and best-managed fishing sectors and is a vital part of the UK economy.
“My priority is to ensure that the interests of pelagic fishermen are clearly and fully heard by policymakers and decision-makers domestically and internationally, as well as to continue to build on the excellent work already being carried out by the SPFA and its members.
“The Scottish pelagic fleet has a strong international reputation for responsible fishing and effective management, and I am very much looking forward to working with SPFA members, the Board and industry partners to build on that success.”