Council candidates asked to show support for fishing industry

CANDIDATES in next month’s council elections have been invited to show support for the local fishing fleet by signing the FISH Pledge, and thereby backing the broad aims and ambitions shared by local crews.

Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Daniel Lawson said the sector was worth £138 million annually, directly employing 450 people.

SFA executive officer Daniel Lawson.

SFA executive officer Daniel Lawson.

The FISH pledge stands for: –

• Fully recognise Shetland’s fishing industry as the foundation of our island economy;
• Improve SIC support for fishing science, net zero ambitions, innovation, and development;
• Safeguard our sustainable and climate-smart fishery for the good of generations to come;
• Highlight the community, environmental, nutritional, and cultural benefits of fishing.

Lawson said: “Shetland has done well to keep a modern, family-owned fleet at the heart of our island economy. With an average crew age of 38 years old, fishing supports families, households, and other businesses all over the isles – to the benefit of us all.

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“Our whole community should be proud of its fishing crews, and all council candidates should take this chance to publicly show that support – and help secure fishing’s future potential.”

All 35 Shetland Islands Council nominees will be contacted in the coming days, Lawson added, with signatories publicised via Shetland Fishermen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The full list of candidates standing in the council elections can be found here.