News / Fisheries research centre hopes
SHETLAND is hoping to be the preferred location for a national fisheries research and management centre once the UK leaves the European Union and its Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The idea focuses on encouraging the UK and Scottish governments to create a base in the isles – likely to be at the NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway, which already undertakes fisheries research.
The proposal is included in a new ten year plan devised by Shetland Partnership Board to attract people to live and work in the isles.
Fisheries is by far the largest industry in the isles – in fact more fish is landed in Shetland than England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined.
Head of economic development at Shetland Islands Council, Douglas Irvine, said the isles would be well positioned for such a research centre as the UK would have to do more of its own science on fish stocks once it had left the CFP.
“The national fisheries research centre idea relates to Brexit and the UK achieving full control of its territorial waters for fishing,” Irvine said.
“The concept is based on persuading the UK and Scottish Governments to locate the research close to where the main stocks of fish are.
“The project would not involve any council expenditure and I would not expect much to be done on the idea until the UK’s post Brexit policies are a bit clearer than they currently are.”
Another action included in the ten year plan is “representation to Marine Scotland for continuing support for sustainable fisheries management”, while there are also moves proposed to drive up demand for local food and drink produce and to develop a chair of seafood industries in the college sector.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Simon Collins said while he had not scrutinised the plans yet, he “welcomed the board’s commitment to an expanded role for NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway”.
He said he was confident that Shetland would play a “major role” in fisheries management after the UK leaves the EU.
“Given that Shetland sits right in the middle of the UK’s most productive fishing grounds, it will certainly play a major role in post-Brexit management,” Collins said.
“NAFC Marine Centre already has an enviable reputation in this respect and we’d expect that to be enhanced.”
The fisheries college’s senior policy advisor Dr Ian Napier, who provides advice on fisheries management and policy to the SIC, the industry and other organisations, said he was unable to comment on the plans.
The centre already undertakes a range of research relating to the fishing and aquaculture industries, as well as marine spatial planning and the marine environment.
A report published by the NAFC Marine Centre last year showed that with an economic contribution estimated at £310 million a year, seafood industry is thought to be four times more valuable to the islands than the oil industry.
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