News / In brief for 26 September 2011
Fuel poverty cash
SHETLAND is set to get £200,000 from the Scottish government’s £12.5 million Universal Home Insulation Scheme to reduce energy bills.
The scheme offers a range of free home insulation measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty.
The scheme will be administered by Shetland Islands Council. Orkney Islands Council is to receive £230,000.
Fencing for Scotland
TWO members of the Shetland Fencing Club will represent Scotland at the Five Nations home international to be held in Cardiff during the first weekend of November.
Stephen Rocks will be fencing in the men’s sabre and Andy Alderman will be coaching the epee team.
The five nations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic each field six teams of four competitors.
Bird deaths
RESEARCH estimating that more than 300,000 birds are killed each year from longline fishing is being presented to the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, being held in Aberdeen this week.
Scientists from the RSPB and BirdLife International’s Global Seabird Programme have called on regional fisheries management organisations and the industry to protect seabirds through the use of simple, cost effective measures.
Senior policy officer Cleo Small said: “Using simple bird-scaring lines and weighting of hooks as they enter the water could dramatically reduce the number of seabirds being killed.
“The findings of this review places a heavy onus on the forthcoming EU Plan of Action for Seabirds to deliver a robust set of remedial measures capable of reducing the impact of longline and other fisheries on seabird populations in EU waters and beyond.”
Well test positive
OIL firm Nautical Petroleum has announced “exceptional results” testing a horizontal well in the East Shetland basin of the North Sea.
The company’s share price rocketed by 10 per cent at the news as the well in the Kraken field tested at a rate of 4,550 barrels a day, according to trade website Upstream Online.
Chief executive Steve Jenkins said: “The reservoir quality, thickness and continuity that we encountered in the horizontal well are outstanding with an exceptional test flow rate and well productivity.”
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.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
