Four win at fishing awards

THERE were four local winners at this year’s Fishing News Awards, which were held in Aberdeen on Thursday night.

The pelagic fisherman of the year prize went to Lowrie Irvine of the Antares, who triumphed over fellow Shetlander George Anderson of the Adenia.

The Resilient bagged the new boat of the year award, while NAFC Marine Centre’s industry liaison officer Caroline Hepburn and lecturer Leslie Tait were given the contribution to safety award alongside the RNLI.

Scalloway Harbour meanwhile was highly commended in the fishing port of the year section.

Commenting on Hepburn and Tait’s win, NAFC principal Willie Shannon said that “it recognises the hard work of the centre’s staff over many years and the importance of NAFC to Shetland’s fishing and maritime industries in ensuring that local fishermen, and others working at sea, are able to undertake essential safety training in the islands.”