Visit us online for news, features and media nostalgia KELSEY KELSEY 13 August 202013 Issue 5527 £3.30 media KELSEY KELSEY fishingnews.co.uk TURN TO PAGE 2 FOR THE FULL SHELLFISH BOOST PLANS REPORT First landings to Lerwick’s new whitefish market Venturous landing into the new market on Wednesday evening. (Photo: Sydney Sinclair) said Lerwick Port Authority Holmsgarth area at a cost of chairman Ronnie Gair. “It is the more than £30m, increasing final phase in a series of major co-ordination and co-operation projects, the catalyst for which was of its activities and reinforcing our an extensive dredging programme position as a leading UK port for more than a decade ago, which the sector.” have transformed the harbour and Continues on page 3 operations. The market is the latest demonstration of our commitment to the sustainability of the sector.” Captain Calum Grains, the port authority chief executive, said: “Detailed discussions with stakeholders helped shape much- Lerwick fishmarket receives its first whitefish landings from the Whalsay fly-shooter Sedulous, needed improvements enhancing overseen by skipper John Wishart. (Photo: John Coutts) the quality of fish landed and sold, with greater efficiency and reduced Lerwick harbour’s new state-of- The Whalsay seiner Sedulous LK landings from the local boats environmental impact. the-art whitefish market, designed 308 had the distinction of being the Venturous, Brighter Morn and “The interlocking dredging to sustain and develop the industry first boat to land to the impressive Prolific, together with the Peterhead and building of Mair’s Quay, and its contribution to the Shetland new facility, which will bring a range trawler Ceol Na Mara. Mair’s Pier and the market, along economy, opened its doors for of benefits for the fishing industry, “The market is an excellent with associated improvements, Mechanised handling will business last week, reports David including doubled landings example of our long-term planning have created a modern hub for promote quicker landing times. Linkie . capacity. The following day saw to meet the needs of port users,” the industry in the harbour’s (Photo: John Coutts) Distributors of Marine Electronics with Dealers throughout UK & Ireland mantsbrite Magnum Pro HD Chart Controller DIGITAL ECHO SOUNDERS NEW MDC-2005BB Black Box Radar 4 x Fully Customisable Function Keys 5.6” Colour Display . Black Box Processor, Keyboard & 4kW, 25” Radome Stores 30,000 Marks/Events 600W Output, Dual Frequency . Connects to any VGA display Stores 1000 Tracks . 3ft or 4ft Open Array Option CVS-126 Only Optional Remote Control . 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Together these This was the view expressed at passing through parliament. That for crab and lobster (chaired by for the group has meant that separate but interlinked initiatives a recent meeting, held remotely, is certainly the ambition,” said Aoife Martin of Seafish and Tony there is momentum between will hopefully guide the industry to a of the Shellfish Industry Advisory NFFO chief Barrie Deas, who was Delahunty, respectively) meetings, and steady progress is profitable and sustainable future.” Group (SIAG), which was confirmed as chair of the group • Worked with CEFAS to being made. It said: “The group At its most recent meeting, the established in November last year. at the meeting. He added that understand the current strengths has been consciously formed in group also considered international The group said it has made the recent work of the SIAG has and weaknesses of stock assessments the spirit of co-management, with factors that the shellfish sector will substantial progress despite the been focused on building solid for crab, lobster and whelk, the aim central government policy officials have to take into account. These crisis resulting from the Covid-19 foundations on which to base future being to build a realistic picture (DEFRA, DAERA in Northern would include: pandemic, which has caused management plans. of the resource base along with Ireland and the Welsh government), domestic and global shellfish “We are focused on answering identification of the dominant CEFAS scientists, industry • Overseas markets – markets to collapse. Its work has three straightforward questions – trends, including regional variations representative bodies and individual understanding the implications continued ‘in preparation for a where are we now, where do we • Mapped the complex regional fishing businesses all represented. of international trade on shellfish return to something approximating want to get to and how do we get and national regulatory framework “The group already has some markets in Europe and beyond normality’. there? currently governing shellfish, with representation from the IFCAs, and • The changes associated with the It was not possible, because of “Our efforts at the moment are the help of DEFRA and the IFCAs discussion is underway on how to UK’s departure from the EU Covid-19, to invite fisheries minister directed towards building a solid • Undertaken an economic analysis bring IFCAs and the MMO into the • Replacement arrangements for the Victoria Prentis to see the work that understanding of our sector before of the sector, with the support of discussions, whilst maintaining a EU Western Waters effort regime is underway within the SIAG. But moving to the next stage. It is Seafish manageable group size.” • Access arrangements and the group said that the foundations important to have solid foundations. • Discussed a draft management The SIAG said it remains open to safeguards against an expansion of are nevertheless being laid for ‘a We are moving quite fast, but it plan which provides a skeleton of more members who share its aims. effort in non-TAC fisheries strong and dynamic initiative that will be essential that we retain the what a final plan might contain It also highlighted that there is a • Dialogue with those shellfish will shape the future management widespread support of the sector.” • Established a website where big overlap and connection between interests which remain in the EU. Mission: Seek help now The Fishermen’s Mission and the Fishermen’s Mission, outlined they could tackle that. The state national federations have warned the benefits to fishermen of the benefits system looked very that the worst may still be to single contact point that it and the confusing in the early days.” come in terms of the effects of federations have set up to help them The Mission has interacted the Covid-19 pandemic, and that find a way through the confusion with about 4,000 clients since the fishermen should take early action of the various support mechanisms crisis began, and working with to prepare for the autumn and available (Fishing News, 30 July, fellow charities, it has disbursed winter, reports Tim Oliver. ‘Help to find CV aid’). something like £250,000. David They said that while there has He said that the Mission’s Dickens said that this has been been some recovery, markets are networks of contacts had matured basically ‘to help keep the lights on An interactive map on the Fishermen’s Mission website will help you still fragile, and boats will be during the period of Covid, and and food on the table, it’s not been locate the nearest Mission port officer. facing the bad weather of autumn had taken a lot of the stress and anything particularly difficult like and winter with little or nothing strain out of the problems that debt relief and so on’. “We were hoping to start not over by a long way.” in the bank to see them through fishermen were encountering “But there is a feeling among topping the bank account up again Elspeth Macdonald, chief difficult times. in identifying the various types my industry compatriots as well, I – that’s now not happening, so executive of the SFF, said that The Fishermen’s Mission, of help available, the qualifying think, that the worst might be yet come back to us, and we’re ready it was difficult in a fast-moving which is a central contact point criteria and how to access it. to come, because we have been to rock and roll.” environment for people to find all for fishermen needing help and Speaking on the Fathoms eating this winter’s sandwiches the right sources of information to support, is urging fishermen who podcast, organised by the Cornish already in terms of using money Stripped of resilience get support.