Marine / Whalsay skipper highlights challenges of fishing industry for national exhibition
AN ISLES skipper says it is becoming increasingly difficult to encourage young folk into the fishing industry because of challenges such as quota cuts and spatial squeeze.
Robbie Jamieson, who is the skipper of the Defiant, has shared his experiences in fishing as part of a new national campaign highlighting the pressures of the industry.
The 29-year-old, who operates out of Whalsay with his crew, is at least the fourth generation of fishermen in his family and says it is a “way of life”.
Jamieson’s father worked on the Defiant before he was even born, and he said it was like bringing a piece of local history home when he was able to buy it.
But after more than a decade at sea he is warning of a difficult future for fishermen – and says it is becoming harder to encourage young people to follow in his footsteps.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association recently announced that nine young men had joined the whitefish sector over the last year, with executive officer Sheila Keith saying there was a “growing interest among young people in joining the industry”.
Jamieson said, however, he was concerned about what the fishing industry would look like for his future children.
“We’ve already lost a huge amount of fishing ground to the east of Shetland. So while there’s tremendous opportunity on our doorstep, it’s been closed off to us,” he said.
“Fishermen want to ensure that there is a viable industry for future generations, and we need to do that partly by looking after the environment.”
Recent improvements in prices had provided some relief, Jamieson said, but that comes after “operating expenses just went completely to an unmanageable state”.
“The business couldn’t get ahead at all,” he said. “Other challenges are that one year the quotas can go up and look good, and then all of a sudden they say the fish is zero TAC (total allowable catch).”
Marine protected areas are a growing concern for island fishermen, with Jamieson warning that access to traditional grounds around Shetland is being steadily reduced.
His case study is included in a new exhibition highlighting the people and stories behind Scotland’s fishing industry has launched at the Scottish Parliament.
Pride in the Seas 2, created by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), marks the second instalment of the award-winning campaign that first began in 2024.
The exhibition brings together a powerful collection of real-life accounts from skippers, deckhands, analysts and others working across the country’s fishing and coastal sectors.
Alongside the exhibition, MSPs are being encouraged to sign a renewed political pledge promising to stand up for fishing and the communities the sector supports.
The SFF launched the initiative at the Scottish Parliament this week, where politicians and industry leaders gathered to unveil the second phase of the campaign, aimed at celebrating the pride, skill and resilience of fishing communities.
SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said Jamieson “represents the deep roots and continuity that define Scotland’s fishing communities”.
“His commitment to bringing the Defiant back home to Whalsay and creating opportunities for the next generation, even amid rising costs and shrinking access to traditional grounds, demonstrates the kind of resilience and long-term stewardship that will sustain our coastal communities,” she said.
“The Pride in the Seas 2 campaign aims to bring those working in our industry to the forefront, giving recognition to the generations of skill, stewardship and resilience that characterise fishing communities across Scotland, and why we need to support Scotland’s fishermen not just for today, but also for the future.”
Following its parliament debut, the exhibition is planned to make its way across Scotland throughout 2026, bringing Jamieson’s story, and others like his, closer to home.
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