News / Seafood industry says there is much to sea
THE SHETLAND seafood industry is upping its game by placing a 15-minute film at the heart a major new awareness campaign.
Around 50 people gathered at the NAFC Marine Centre on Wednesday evening for the launch of the £74,000 ‘So Much to Sea‘ initiative.
The campaign is initially directed at Shetlanders in the hope of generating a greater understanding of the social and economic impact the industry has on local communities.
A series of events in halls including cooking demonstrations and seafood tastings are planned between now and the end of March.
Opening Wednesday night’s event, chief executive of trades body Shetland Seafood, Ruth Henderson, reminded those present that the industry was worth more to the islands than oil and gas.
Yet, the significance of the £300 million sector wasn’t even fully understood and anticipated across Shetland, she said.
Produced by Fair Isle based filmmaker Liz Musser, the short video tells the story of the various seafood sectors through the people employed in them.
The council’s chief executive Mark Boden, who has no background in fisheries, said he was particularly impressed by the “human element”, which gave an insight beyond “just facts and figures”.
Henderson said: “The long and extraordinary story of Shetland’s seafood industry – and the massive impact it has had and continues to have on our way of life – is a story that deserves to be well told and passed on to new generations.
“This is a thriving and hugely significant industry which has a wonderful future, so we are delighted to be increasing people’s awareness through the ‘So Much to Sea’ exhibition, a great new film, and other initiatives which are not only informative but entertaining.”
Almost three quarters of the funding for the campaign has come from the European Fisheries Fund, while the industry through its various representative bodies contributed the remaining 26 per cent.
Six ‘So Much to Sea’ community events will be held at:
• Bigton Hall, 15 February, 5 – 8pm;
• Burra Hall, 22 February, 4 – 7pm;
• Walls Hall, 1 March, 5 – 7pm;
• Vidlin hall, 8 March 4 -7pm;
• Cullivoe, 21 March, 5 – 8pm and
• Symbister, 29 March, 12.00 – 3.30pm.
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