Also in the news / Nature champion, Bressay award, fishing history book, more tall ships support and more…
SHETLAND MSP Beatrice Wishart has been named MSP Nature Champion of the Year 2022 by Scottish environment network LINK.
Wishart was nominated by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) for her work championing protection of the orca.
In May, the MSP highlighted the serious impacts of underwater detonations on marine mammals through a parliamentary debate on unexploded ordnance clearance. She also has also taken part in Shorewatch training in Shetland.
“I am proud to be a nature champion for orca in the Scottish Parliament. As ever, my commitment to protecting our marine environment, and particularly orca and other cetaceans, continues,” Wishart said.
COMMUNITY group Bressay Development has been named the winner in the community led regeneration category at this year’s SURF awards, which were held in Glasgow on Thursday night.
The awards, held annually since 2003, recognise regeneration achievements in five different categories.
Bressay Development was applauded for its work to “repurpose a closed school and multi-court in order to retain communal space and ensure community ownership of the facilities”.
The community initiative runs the Speldiburn café and good as new shop as well as the woodland regeneration project at Brough Loch.
SHETLAND Fishermen’s Association is publishing a special book to commemorate its 75th anniversary.
The 246-page hardback book, 75 Years of the SFA, has been written by Dr Ian Napier of UHI Shetland and features a large number of images by photographers such as Dennis Coutts, Tom Kidd and Martin Smith.
Dr Napier said: “The book charts the main issues that Shetland’s fishermen have faced over the last 75 years, from the price of fish to North Sea oil and the Common Fisheries Policy.
“The story is told primarily through the contemporary eyes of the association, as recorded in the minutes of its meetings.
“It also reflects wider changes in society in the islands and beyond and is a reminder of how much has changed in a relatively short time.
“In an age when almost everyone has a smartphone in their pocket offering instant universal communication, it is difficult to imagine a time when the absence of a payphone in the Lerwick fish market was an issue that the association had to address.”
Priced £40 , the book will soon be available via the SFA office, the LHD shop and The Shetland Times Bookshop.
ONE of the key players in Shetland’s marine industry, Ocean Kinetics, has been confirmed as a sponsor for next summer’s Tall Ships event in Lerwick.
The company said it was pleased to be providing both a financial sponsorship package and the use of its vessel, the Ruby May, as a press boat during the event from 26-29 July 2023.
Established in Lerwick in 1992, and with bases in Aberdeen and Oban, Ocean Kinetics has a track record in oil and gas, renewables, fishing and aquaculture, decommissioning and power and utilities.
Managing director John Henderson said: “It is 30 years since Ocean Kinetics was established to provide marine-based engineering solutions to industry in Shetland, so it is particularly fitting for us to be supporting an event focused around the marine environment at this time.
“It is a privilege to support Shetland as a host port and we also fully endorse the wider benefits afforded to young people through sail training.”
Emma Miller of event organisers Shetland Tall Ships added: “Their provision of the Ruby May as a press boat will provide accredited photographers with waterside access to ships for photographs, helping the media to fully capture what is sure to be a wonderful spectacle.”
THE ROTARY Club of Shetland is holding its latest fund-raising event in support of the OPEN peer education project.
On Saturday 17 December the team is asking the public to contribute to a ‘Mile of Coins’ in the Toll Clock Shopping Centre between 10am and 4pm.
Rotary man David Anderson said: “The event is in support of the Open Project, an innovative group helping young people to help themselves.
“This is not a project that tells young people what they need, but instead asks them what they want and then seeks to facilitate their achieving their ambition.
“While the club is aware that everyone has been affected in the current economic climate, we hope that they will come along to the Toll Clock Centre and help to put down a mile of coins. Every little will help to support this most worthy cause.”
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