Shellfish management group hope to renew controls for 15 years
Only 105 boats licensed can legally catch and land shellfish locally
SHETLAND Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) is looking to renew local control of inshore shellfish fisheries for another 15 years.
The award-winning system has been in place since 1999 when the government devolved powers to regulate fishing for species like crab, lobster and scallops.
Shetland is the only community in Scotland to have such controls.
Only the 105 boats licensed by the SSMO are legally allowed to catch and land shellfish commercially from within six nautical miles of Shetland.
The SSMO said the system prevents overfishing by unauthorised local and nomadic fishing boats which could cause the stocks to collapse.
Its powers are set out in a regulating order which expires on 31 January 2028.
The SSMO has faced public criticism down the years from fishermen unhappy about licensing restrictions and difficulties obtaining new licences.
SSMO chairman Alastair Cooper said it was “understandable that folk feel they should be entitled to a licence”, but added that the point of the licensing system was “to limit the numbers who can apply effort to limited shellfish stocks”.
“We exist to prevent the stock collapses seen in the past with too many boats chasing a bonanza,” he added.
An application for a new order will have to undergo extensive scrutiny before it can be approved and laid before the Scottish Parliament to become law, which includes rounds of consultation with fishermen, the wider community and various specialist stakeholders and government bodies.
Cooper said there would be a “difficult journey before us and very limited resources to get us there”.
However, he said “Shetland has a lot to lose if we don’t manage to secure a new order”.
A series of five public meetings are being held this month to discuss the future management plans.
These kick off in Yell on 10 September and continue on to Brae, Whalsay and Burra before finishing up in Lerwick.
SSMO inshore coordinator John Robertson said that these will be fairly informal sessions aimed at those with an interest in the challenges of managing shellfish fishing.
“We’ll look a bit at what the SSMO does and what it plans to do if the regulating order continues,” Robertson said.
“We will never please everyone but the main measure of success is keeping the stocks, and all the family fishing businesses, stable and sustainable.”
The SSMO has been boosted by strong support shown by licence holders who responded to a postal survey with 96 per cent in favour of the organisation continuing and applying for renewed powers.
The powers set out in the order come from the 1967 Shellfish Act and are limited to managing shellfish activities within six nautical miles.
Recently there have been suggestions that Shetland should pursue more extensive fisheries powers, such as over small boat mackerel jigging and possibly doubling the area of jurisdiction out to 12 nautical miles.
Cooper said: “We, as a community, should debate what new powers we want to pursue.
“The SSMO has neither the remit nor the resources to push for powers beyond what it already has. But I would want the SSMO to very much be part of the debate if it comes.”
The SSMO board of directors is composed mainly of active shellfish fishermen and processors who give their time voluntarily. The organisation has one employee.
The public consultation meetings in September, all starting at 7pm, will be held at:
- Thursday 10 – Mid Yell Hall club room
- Monday 14 – Brae Community Hall club room
- Wednesday 16 – Symbister Hall
- Monday 21 – Burra Public Hall upstairs
- Wednesday 23– Room 12, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick
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