Both new fish markets now operational

FOLLOWING hard on the heels of Lerwick’s new fish market, Scalloway’s own new market has now also become operational.

Owner Shetland Islands Council said on Tuesday that the first fish had been landed and sold at the state of the art £5.6million facility at Blacksness Pier.

The opening of both markets was delayed by a number of months due to restrictions imposed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Lerwick fish market received its first landing last Wednesday.

Just over 250 boxes of whitefish were landed by the Hamnavoe-based Radiant Star, caught off the westside of Shetland on Monday.

The fish was sold by Shetland Seafood Auctions.

The fish was sold by Shetland Seafood Auctions.

Chair of the council’s harbour board Andrea Manson said she wanted to congratulate Radiant Star skipper Victor Laurenson for being the first to land at the new market.

“The newly rebuilt and expanded fish market is a significant asset to the local whitefish industry and I hope we’ll see many more boxes landed here for many years to come,” she said.

The new Scalloway fish market, financed solely by the local authority after a bid for EU funds was turned down, offers around double the floor area of the previous market.

In recent weeks, the final tasks to meet food hygiene requirements have been completed along with other minor works, such as floor lining and fitting of fixtures.

The new market has been built on the same site as the previous building, parts of which were around 40 years old.

Earlier this year, Scalloway Harbour won the title of Fishing Port of the Year 2019 at the Fishing News Awards, partly in recognition of the high level of service offered to harbour users during the redevelopment of the fish market.