Entitled Fish Out Of Water, the exhibition – commissioned by the museum – features works by acclaimed photographer Mark Cargill.

The museum boasts a marvellous collection of archive images but these new works concern the actual process of how fish makes its way to the consumer's plate.

A museum spokesperson said: "A notable omission from the themes we covered was documentary evidence of what is happening in the industry today.

"Professional photographer Mark Cargill was commissioned by the museum to fill this gap in our knowledge by producing a series of pictures capturing, first-hand, contemporary practice in three separate processing plants based in Fraserburgh, Peterhead and St Monans.



"A stunning collection of vibrant colour photographs depicting busy, modern workplaces is the result."

Historically, the families of fishermen were involved in the processing of the catch – daughters and sisters gutted fish, wives smoked and dried them.

In some coastal communities fishermen's families are still employed in the trade but processing is now largely done on an industrial scale by companies who employ a mixture of local and immigrant workers.

The spokesperson added: "Mark was struck by how hard and fast the employees worked on all three premises he visited."

Mark Cargill's love of photography began when, at the age of five, his father gave him a Zenit B camera for Christmas and since then he has gone on to work commercially.

The exhibition runs until September 14.