Marine / Ambitious lobster project helps QA Fish diversify
A NOVEL way of keeping live lobsters until prices for the sought-after delicacy are their highest is getting a 21st century makeover.
Originally developed in the 1960s by Shetland seafood pioneer Gibbie Johnson, who died earlier this year aged 94, the concept has now been taken forward by his grandson Dean Johnson.
He and Robert Williamson, the managing director of Scalloway based QA Fish Ltd, have been experimenting for some time with how best to keep lobsters in large creels on the seabed.
What started as a small-scale venture a few years ago has slowly but steadily grown in size and ambition.
Last week, the Scottish Government confirmed a £512,474 grant towards a £1.3 million project by QA Fish to create a grading and packaging facility for its growing lobster business.
The company said they were confident that once the new facility was up and running between four and six new jobs would be created.
Williamson, who founded QA Fish 17 years ago, said: “The thinking behind this is to have another string to our bow in shellfish along with all the whitefish that we do and to be able to supply the customers year-round and take advantage of the market when the price is high.”
He added that the company’s customers preferred to buy the whole range of seafood, from different whitefish to a selection shellfish, from one supplier.
As such the company has steadily grown and diversified over recent years and is now the only locally based whitefish processor.
“The funding gives us the ability to expand and make a new packing and processing area for the lobster on land before it goes to market,” Williamson added.
This will include partitioning off a section of an existing shed on Blacksness Pier, upgrading the sea water pumping capability as tonnage goes up, as well as creating the right environmental conditions for handling a live product.
The funding will also go towards scaling up an aquaculture workboat for heavy lifting and help development machinery required for the storage of lobsters at sea.
Johnson, who became a shareholder in QA Fish last year, said: “My grandfather originally started this in Vidlin in the 1960s; he stored lobsters for the Christmas market and then sold them all over the world.
“Me and Robert have been playing with it for the last four to five years and we are now at a stage to scale it up and make a real goal of it.”
While the best time to catch lobsters is the summer season, the highest prices can usually be achieved during the winter, particularly around Christmas.
QA Fish buys lobsters from around Scotland, stores them in specially developed large creel cages on the seabed off Scalloway, and lands the crustaceans at Blacksness for packaging and shipment according to customer demand.
With customers around the world, live lobsters are taken by air freight (from Glasgow) to Dubai, China and Japan, while trucks can reach the French city of Boulogne-sur-Mer for the European market within 48 hours.
What started as an experiment has already grown to a sizable production of 50 tonnes this year. With the forthcoming investment the company plans to double or treble production by 2030.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
