Also in the news / Also in the news 21 April 2026
- Salmon sector writes to candidates
- Digital physiotherapy platform extended
- Land managers sought for wild flower project
- Arts agency undergoes rebrand
SCOTLAND’s salmon sector has written to all Holyrood election candidates, urging the next Scottish Government to “cut red tape and support jobs, investment and export growth”.
The joint letter, organised by trade body Salmon Scotland and backed by 60 businesses including producers and supply chain companies, argues red tape is putting the country at a “competitive disadvantage”.
The letter is signed by the two companies with salmon farms in Shetland – Scottish Sea Farms and Cooke Aquaculture – as well as some local firms including Ocean Kinetics and Streamline.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “Scotland has built a world-class salmon sector that supports thousands of jobs and brings significant investment into rural and coastal communities.
“But we cannot take that success for granted. Right now, red tape and delay are making it harder for businesses to invest, expand, and compete internationally at exactly the wrong time.”
NHS Shetland and the Shetland Health and Care Partnership have extended the use of digital physiotherapy platform Phio for a further two years.
This follows a successful pilot that demonstrated “strong clinical outcomes and reduced demand on frontline services”.
During the initial rollout, 75 per cent of patients using Phio required no further musculoskeletal (MSK) treatment beyond the support provided through the platform.
NHS Shetland’s director of pharmacy Anthony McDavitt, who is also the interim depute chief officer for the Shetland Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We have supported continuing Phio because the pilot has shown it adds value alongside existing physiotherapy and primary care services.
“In a rural and remote setting, having more than one way to access support matters. Phio gives people an additional option where a digital route works for them, while face-to-face care remains available for those who need it or prefer it.”
Gillian Ironside, professional lead for physiotherapy services, said uptake has far exceeded expectations, with more than 500 people accessing Phio.
CONSERVATION programme Species on the Edge and Shetland Amenity Trust (SAT) are looking for land managers to help boost Shetland’s struggling pollinators by growing wildflowers.
They have teamed up to create a supply of wildflower seeds that are native to Shetland to be used in meadow creation projects across the islands to provide vital habitat for pollinators such as bumblebees.
Nathalie Pion, RSPB conservation advisor and Species on the Edge area manager in Shetland, said: “Crofting plays a key role in maintaining habitats for bumblebees. Practices such as low intensity grazing and late-cut grasslands create the right conditions for native plants to thrive, and in turn support pollinators like bees.”
To find out more and to discuss options for your land, contact Becca, Species on the Edge project officer: rebecca.jackson@rspb.org.uk.
SHETLAND Arts has undergone a rebrand and website re-design process with the support of funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Shetland Arts said a new logo, brighter colour palette and refreshed typography “create a more flexible and confident visual identity”.
The arts agency worked with Eleven Design following a competitive tender process.
Shetland Arts’ CEO Graeme Howell, said: “As our organisation has grown and evolved, it has become clear that our visual identity needs to better reflect who we are today and where we are heading.”
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