News / £1m worth of fish a day caught around the isles
AROUND £365 million worth of fish was landed from waters around Shetland in 2016, according to new research from the NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway.
In similar figures to previous years, over half of the fish was caught by EU boats.
Research by Dr Ian Napier suggests that 420,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish was caught in the Shetland part of the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone, with local boats catching 15 per cent.
Shetland boats landed £118 million worth of fish and shellfish in 2016, which represented a large increase in value from the previous year.
The value of fish and shellfish landed in Shetland itself rose to £79 million, with over half of the landings coming from local boats.
Once again more fish was landed in Shetland than England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined, while only Peterhead was busier than the isles in the UK.
Nearly 19,000 tonnes of whitefish worth £33 million was landed in Shetland – the majority by local boats – while £41 million worth of pelagic fish was landed.
Three thousand tonnes of shellfish was landed locally at a value of nearly £5 million.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Simon Collins said the results show how vital it is for the local economy that control is taken of the waters after Brexit.
“This latest NAFC report highlights the sheer scale of the opportunity for Shetland and fishing communities around the UK that will be presented to us under international law when we leave the EU and take control of our own waters,” he said.
“Dr Napier’s figures also demonstrate just how healthy local fish stocks are, warranting renewed investment in freight transport and infrastructure in the near future.”
The news comes as plans progress for a new fish market at Lerwick, while a project to upgrade the market facilities in Scalloway are close to being approved by Shetland Islands Council.
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