Also in the news / Website complaint, no fishing and arms deal link and more …
POLICE chief Chris Sewell said they have received a complaint about a website which has ‘named and shamed’ birdwatchers accessing supposedly private land.
The website has published photos and videos of people trying to take photos of wildlife at Boddam, with some birdwatchers named and strongly criticised.
Area commander Sewell said he was “aware of ongoing issues at Boddam regarding outdoor access.”
“Police Scotland is committed to ensuring that members of the public can enjoy Shetland’s places in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code,” he told Shetland News.
“Where persons attempting to enjoy Shetland’s outdoors are subject to threatening or abusive behaviour then those responsible will be dealt with robustly in terms of enforcement activity.”
He said enquiries were ongoing to “establish any criminality” with regards to the website.
The hosting company of the website, as well as the council’s outdoor access and antisocial behaviour teams, have also been alerted.
THERE WILL be no link in the negotiations between the UK and EU on security and future access to fishing, the minister behind the talks has confirmed.
Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael received a confirmation in Parliament that there would be “no linkage” between the two issues following reports the UK Government could make concessions on fishing to secure an arms deal with the EU.
However Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister responsible for the negotiations, told Carmichael on Thursday that would not be the case.
Carmichael challenged the minister following a report in The Times newspaper that the UK government had made major concessions on EU access to UK fishing waters.
Thomas-Symonds said they would be “negotiating in the interests of our fishers” and “looking to our responsibilities to the marine environment”.
Speaking afterwards, Carmichael said the minister had “stated clearly that there is no link” between fisheries and security and defence negotiations.
“We have a right to take him at his word and hold him to that commitment,” he said.
“If it emerges, however that concessions on fishing rights have indeed been made as a quid pro quo then the sense of betrayal in coastal communities will be even higher after it was denied categorically today.
THE UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is asking for the public’s views on the potential environmental effects of launches from SaxaVord Spaceport by rocket company Orbex.
Scottish rocket firm Orbex has applied for a launch operator licence to launch from the Unst spaceport, with the CAA publishing a public consultation assessing its potential effects on the environment.
Orbex is proposing up to 10 launches a year from Saxavord Spaceport, all of which will take place in a northerly direction over the sea.
The CAA said the purpose of the consultation was to ensure Orbex had “adequately considered any potential environmental effects of their intended activities” and, if necessary had “taken steps to avoid, mitigate or offset the risks and their potential effects”.
The consultation can be found here.
LERWICK Port Authority’s cruise and marketing manager has joined the leadership team of Cruise Scotland.
Melanie Henderson will join as secretary following its recent AGM.
It comes as Cruise Scotland announced that the cruise sector contributed an estimated £130 million to the Scottish economy annually, with 1.1 million passengers visiting ports across the country last year.
A total of 145 cruise vessels are expected to visit Shetland this year as part of another packed cruise schedule.
The Lerwick Port Authority joined Cruise Scotland in attending Seatrade Cruise Global – the annual international cruise industry event – earlier this month in Miami, Florida.
“Cruise visitors play a vital role in supporting Scotland’s tourism economy, particularly in rural and island communities where these calls represent a welcome economic boost,” said Cruise Scotland market development manager Kirsty Hutchison.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
