Also in the news / Aquaculture entanglement, accessible airport, Mossbank post office, climate warning, support for families and more …
THE COUNCIL’s marine planning team will be raising the issue of potentially dangerous entanglement of fishing gear with debris on the seabed and floating ropes from aquaculture site at the meeting of the Shetland Fisheries and Aquaculture Working group later this month.
Earlier this week, Shetland News reported on growing concern from inshore fishermen who said that lives and livelihoods were endangered.
‘We want action rather than words’ fishermen demand over concern of aquaculture entanglement
The SIC’s coastal planning manager Simon Pallant said the meeting will be attended by representatives from the local industry and as well as trade body Salmon Scotland.
“Where there are reports of fouled anchors or entanglement related to aquaculture gear, we are aware that our two salmon farming companies (Cooke Aquaculture and Scottish Sea Farms) have advised the local fishing industry to report matters directly to them so that they can be dealt with,” he said.
SUMBURGH Airport is among 12 UK airports rated as ‘good’ in its accessibility performance, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
In its annual report, the aviation regulator has published the ranking of how airports with more than 150,000 passengers annually accommodate and treat passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities.
Glasgow and Prestwick airports are the only in Scotland that received a ‘very good’ rating. Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness were all rated as ‘good’.
Five UK airports (Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, London Gatwick and Norwich) were rated as needing improvement.
The CAA report comes after a number of high profile accessibility failings at Scottish airports made the headlines, including this one:
Investigations underway after ‘humiliating’ experience at Glasgow Airport
MOSSBANK post office is set to reopen on 6 September after it closed in July.
A Post Office spokesperson said the postmaster had withdrawn their resignation and will continue to operate the branch after a short gap in service this summer.
They added that the Mossbank office, located within Mossbank House, is currently closed in the meantime, with the nearest service in Brae.
AN ALLIANCE of more than 20 climate and environmental groups have urged the Scottish Government to strengthen its commitment to tackle the climate crisis and oppose new oil and gas drilling.
In a letter to first minister John Swinney, the 23 organisations, including Friends of the Earth, Oxfam Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society, the RSPB and Uplift, warn against further backsliding on its climate commitments.
They quote polling conducted by Edinburgh-based research house Diffley Partnership which showed that 61 per cent of Scottish people want climate change to remain a top priority for the Scottish Government.
In the joint letter, the groups argue “it is clear that no new licences could pass a credible climate assessment” pointing to large bodies of evidence from the International Energy Agency and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which show there can be no new fossil fuel developments if warming is to be limited to the internationally agreed 1.5C threshold”.
Executive director at Uplift Tessa Khan, said: “Rather than protecting the financial interests of profiteering oil and gas companies the Scottish Government should support investment in clean energy and in the sectors that will provide secure jobs for decades to come.”
PARENTS and carers are being encouraged to check their eligibility for financial support as the summer holidays end.
The five family payments administered by Social Security Scotland can help pay for extra back to school expenses alongside everyday family costs like food, clothing and days out.
This includes the Scottish Child Payment, a weekly payment of £26.70 for eligible families with children up to 16.
Meanwhile three Best Start Grant payments and the Best Start Foods are designed to help families at key stages in their children’s early years, including during pregnancy.
Cabinet secretary for social justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The most important priority for our government is eradicating child poverty, and we are committed to easing the pressure on families by getting vital money into their pockets at key stages in their child’s life.”
More information can be found at https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment and https://www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods
LOGANAIR has appointed Natalie Bush as the company’s new chief operation officer and accountable manager.
A former UK director for TUI Airways, Bush will join Loganair in December, and will report to the airline’s chief executive Luke Farajallah.
A pilot herself Bush will assume leadership for all operational and service delivery areas including the pilot, cabin crew and airport workforce groups across Loganair.
She will also be responsible for ground handling, safety, security, and compliance, as well as for the network operations teams.
Farajallah said: “We are extremely happy to have been able to attract one of the most talented rising stars of the aviation sector, whose career is going from strength to strength, to the UK’s largest regional airline. “
SHETLAND Arts will be hosting a day of free wellbeing events on Friday 23 August, as part of Healing Arts Scotland – a country-wide, week-long activation celebrating improved physical, mental and social health through the arts.
The aim of the week is to inspire and strengthen a network that can positively address current health concerns and inequalities across Scotland.
All Shetland events will be taking place in Mareel, and are free of charge. These include:
- Early Years Dance Class with Kathryn Gordon
- Wellbeing Writing with Genevieve White
- Make Your Own Self Care Box with Mind Your Head
- Livestreamed Panel: Nurturing Healthy Island Communities through Culture
- Nature Journalling with RSPB Shetland
- Adult Ballet Taster Class with Matthew Lawrence of Shetland Community School of Ballet
All events are free of charge, but booking is required to secure places. They are available online from tickets.shetlandarts.org, in-person at the Box Office in Mareel, or by calling on 01595 745 500 during opening hours of 10am-9pm, Tuesday – Sunday.
