Friday 29 March 2024
 6°C   SSE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Shellfishing under the spotlight

SHETLAND’s shellfish fisheries come under the spotlight on Friday when four members of the European Parliament visit the isles to learn about sustainable fishing.

The isles’ brown crab, lobster, velvet crab and king scallop fisheries are all currently being assessed for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation.

The field trip to Shetland, which will also involve a number of journalists from national and fisheries newspapers, is seen as an opportunity to showcase the local fishing industry.

The Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) applied for MSC accreditation in May 2010 and is expected to complete the assessments later this year.

Some parts of the isles’ herring and mackerel fisheries were MSC certified in 2008 and in 2009. The Shetland and Scottish rope grown shellfish industry are also going through the certification process.

SSMO project manager Jennifer Mouat said: “We are delighted to host this important event and have the opportunity to showcase some of the exciting and innovative projects which are taking place across the fishing industry in Shetland.

“We feel we are well placed to share our experiences of the MSC process and also to have the opportunity to explain our future management plans.”

The four MEPs visiting are former vice chairman of the European parliament’s fisheries committee Struan Stevenson, Chris Davis (north west England), Julie Girling (south west England) and Henri Malosse, the president of the employers group in the European economic and social committee.

They will visit the fish market in Lerwick and the NAFC Marine Centre to meet the scientists behind the research.

Later in the day, the MEPs will visit the Shetland Catch processing plant in Lerwick and go on a tour of the pelagic trawler Adenia, as part of the MSC certified Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.