Tag Archives: Shetland
Skipper retires after 64 years at sea
A Whalsay fisherman has reflected on his lifetime at sea as he retires after almost six and a half decades. Davie Hutchison, 79, known locally as “Davie A Skaw”, had been skipper of the 75-metre pelagic trawler Charisma. He has now called time on his career after 64 years. Mr. Hutchison’s first job at the fishing was in 1960 on the 53-feet seine-net vessel Brighter Morn where he worked as the cook. Throughout his career, Mr. Hutchison witnessed countless changes to the industry, including the introduction of radars. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:45
Eight crew members rescued from sinking boat after crash during fish transfer
Eight people had to be rescued from a fishing boat after it crashed into its sister vessel and began to sink south east of Fair Isle. An investigation found that the skipper of Peterhead-based trawler Guiding Star had left the wheelhouse unattended during a routine fish transfer between it and the Guiding Light in October 2022. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report said the skipper had been “excited to view the quality catch” after several days of intensive fishing and wasn’t there to prevent the boat from colliding with Guiding Light during a heavy swell. Water began to enter the boat’s hull immediately following the crash, rising above the cabin floor and erupting through the emergency escape hatch before continuing to flood the main deck. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:16
MPAs and windfarm proposals labelled an ‘absolute attack’ on the fishing industry
Fisherman have condemned plans to introduce MPAs (marine protected areas) and an offshore windfarm on the isles fishing grounds – with a lack of “evidence” at the forefront of concerns. A public exhibition of the Stoura Offshore Windfarm was held on Thursday at Shetland Museum followed by a drop-in consultation yesterday at Lerwick Town Hall to respond to the MPA proposals. Fears for the future of the fishing industry were heard at both events this week. Skerries whitefish fisherman James Anderson said the MPA proposals will “not do any good at all” and continuously closing off areas poses a significant threat to the sector. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:34
OPINION: The desk-bound green groups that dictate fishing policy
Shetland skippers have worked in harmony with the sea for thousands of years; the maritime world in general and fishing in particular are vital to the very existence of our community and way of life. In contrast, the corporately funded, desk-bound staff of environmental campaign groups operate in a fluorescently lit, urban world of computer screens and utterly misplaced conceptions about our industry. Yet so warped has our political system become that, despite their having no stake whatsoever in our future, they are the ones being allowed to dictate fisheries policy and regulations. It would be ridiculous if it wasn’t so dangerous. It jeopardises the jobs of hundreds of people and poses a genuine threat to our community. Why? more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:46
Fatal accident inquiry determination highlights crew’s brave rescue attempts
The crew of a local fishing boat did “all that they could” to try to recover a colleague as soon as possible from the sea after he fell overboard, according to the determination of a fatal accident inquiry. Sheriff Ian Cruickshank also paid tribute to the “bravery” of skipper Andrew White after Edison ‘Joseph’ Lacaste fell overboard off the Copious in February 2021. A determination on Lacaste’s fatal accident inquiry, written by Sheriff Cruickshank, was published on Friday. The 45-year-old Philippine national died after falling into the water while carrying out repairs to fishing gear on the twin rigger Copious in the early hours of 18 February 2021. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:22
Floating device would likely not have saved fisherman, inquiry hears
A fisherman who fell overboard from a local whitefish trawler is unlikely to have survived even if he had worn his personal flotation device (PFD) correctly, an inquiry into his death heard on Tuesday. Edison Lacaste died after falling into the water while carrying out repairs to fishing gear on the twin rigger Copious in the early hours of 18 February 2021. The crew instantly responded to the incident by throwing a floating mooring rope but the 45-year-old Philippine national became unresponsive within two to three minutes. The second day of a Fatal Accident Inquiry held at Lerwick Sheriff Court also heard that the owners of the fishing vessel, 60 North Fishing (Shetland) Ltd, had complied with all necessary maritime health and safety requirements, and had held and recorded man overboard drills on a regular basis. more, >>click to read<< 16:17
Skipper recalls man overboard incident as fatal accident inquiry begins
The Skipper of a local whitefish trawler told an inquiry at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday how he was unable to hold on to a fellow crewman who fell overboard while carrying out repairs. The body of Edison Lacaste was recovered from the waters by the Sumburgh based search and rescue helicopter 30 miles southeast of Sumburgh in February 2021. During the first day of a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of the 45-year-old Philippine national, skipper of the Copious LK 985 Andrew White recalled the events that led to the tragic loss. The twin rigger was hauling its nets in the early hours of 18 February, when the crew became aware that a hammer lock on one of the wires attached to the net had failed and needed to be replaced. more, >>click to read<< 14:50
Eight crew members airlifted to safety after fishing boat sinks
Eight people have been rescued and flown to Sumburgh Airport after the local whitefish trawler Opportune sank to the east of Shetland earlier this morning (Sunday). The coastguard said the call came in at around 5am after the boat had reportedly taken in water at the stern and sank quickly. The incident happened around 36 nautical miles northeast of Bressay, in rough seas. All eight crew members from the 27-metre vessel are accounted for and are said to be safe and well. They were airlifted from their liferafts by the Sumburgh based coastguard helicopter and a Norwegian search and rescue helicopter. Other vessels in the area area also offered their assistance. Photos, video, >>click to read<< 14:52
Encouraging results from inshore fish survey
Survey catches of cod in the inshore waters around Shetland last year were at their best for five years, fishing leaders say. The record squid catch rate observed in inshore waters in 2022 was also surpassed, according to scientists from UHI Shetland. This has led to suggestion that there is a growing opportunity to diversify into a targeted squid fishery – although this may need government support. Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Daniel Lawson said: “Given how important inshore waters are to the Shetland fisheries ecosystem, and how vital it is for the future of fishing that nursery grounds show healthy amounts and sizes of young fish, these are encouraging results, particularly for cod. more, >>click to read<< 11:09
Fishing quota increases should be ‘welcomed by everyone’, industry says
There is positive news for the local fishing industry after a number of quota increases were confirmed for 2024. Commercially important fish stocks such as whiting (+124 per cent), haddock (+74 per cent), herring (+29 per cent), saithe (+25 per cent) and cod (+15 per cent) are all increasing. Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) chair and Alison Kay skipper James Anderson said it was a statement of confidence in the condition of Scotland’s seas. “These 2024 quota increases are very much welcomed by Shetland’s family-owned fishing fleet, and should be welcomed by everyone – not just for the benefits that fishing brings to our islands, but for what it tells us about the state of our seas: the reality is that fish stocks are thriving,” he said. more, >>click to read<< 08:40
Heroic Peterhead fisherman saved five crewmen from sinking trawler after North Sea collision
Kris Leel, an engineer for Peterhead-based fishing boat Guiding Light, was awarded the Lady Swaythling Trophy from the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society at a ceremony in London in October. With both vessels fishing in “challenging” conditions, which included rough seas and near gale-force winds, both ships collided when they were retrieving their gear after hauling in their catch. It happened after Guiding Light’s bow rose in the swell and struck the Guiding Star, which resulted in the latter’s stern being sliced open and it started to go down. Mr Leel started the forward crane and prepared numerous throwing lines to help. Photos, more, >>click to read<< 08:01
Lifeboat crew return after 18-hour call
Stephen Manson described the seas as “brutal” after the lifeboat was called out to aid the Danish trawler Westbank and her three-man crew. The 17m fishing vessel had broken down, and the RNLI crew launched into difficult conditions in the North Sea, heading into the south-easterly gale which has brought chaos across Scotland. “It was brutal, there were big seas, a lot of rolling and things going walkabout on the boat,” Mr Manson said. “We handled it well and it all ran fairly smoothly, but weather was very much a challenge, especially getting there.” >>click to read<< 10:58
Engineer Honored for Using a Power Block to Rescue Shipwreck Survivors
The engineer of the pair trawler F/V Guiding Light has been honored with a lifesaving trophy from the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society for his quick thinking during the sinking of the vessel’s sister ship off the Shetland Islands last year. On the afternoon of October 6, 2022, the Peterhead-based fishing vessels F/V Guiding Star and F/V Guiding Light were located about 45 nm to the southeast of the Shetlands. Conditions were challenging, including rough seas and winds approaching gale force. At around noon, the vessels hauled in their catch and were retrieving their trawl gear when they collided. The bow of the F/V Guiding Light rose in a swell and struck F/V Guiding Star towards the stern, penetrating the hull and flooding an accommodations compartment. F/V Guiding Light’s first engineer, Kriss Leel, moved quickly to respond, starting up the deck crane and making heaving lines ready. >>click to read<< 12:49
Documentary reveals exploitative working conditions on board gill netters
ISLES MP Alistair Carmichael is to lobby the UK Government and other relevant organisations to put pressure on Germany after yet more revelations about the fleet of foreign gill netters operating in Shetland waters. Working conditions described as “just one step removed from modern slavery” have been uncovered on board a number of Spanish-owned and German-registered gill netters catching monkfish. A 30-minute programme by German public broadcaster NDR documents how the Indonesian crews on board the Pesorsa Dos and Ortegal Tres are working 12-hour days, sometimes for a whole year with no day off, and being paid 800 euros (around £700) per month. Video, >click to read< 13:52
‘The Bad Day’: Two maritime disasters that shook the Shetland Islands
By a terrible grim coincidence, this week sees the anniversary of two of the worst disasters ever to happen in the Scottish fishing industry, and on both occasions it was the Shetland Islands which were afflicted by the tragic calamities that took place almost 50 years apart and cost the lives of 163 men. On both occasions, wild storms caught fishermen out at sea and led to the destruction of fishing boats, often with the loss of all on board. The first disaster took place 191 years ago today on July 16, 1832, in the midst of what became a summer of mourning on Scotland’s northern archipelago. >click to read< 09:54
60 North Fishing director welcomes arrival of new Prolific
The new 25-metre Prolific arrived in Lerwick late last night (Thursday), much to owner Mark Anderson’s relief. She is the sister ship of the new Copious LK985, which arrived in the isles at the end of January. Both vessels belong to 60 North Fishing (Shetland) and replace two of the company’s previous vessels with the same names. “Both of the boats were nine months late, each of them, in being delivered,” Anderson said. “We sold the previous boats, first one in April last year and the second one in the end of June… so it’s been a long time coming.” Photos, >click to read< 08:39
Take a look inside Shetland fishing crew’s 30% bigger boat
She made her maiden appearance in Shetland’s largest port last weekend. Skipper Chris Duncan described her as “top class”. And it is hard to argue, considering all the modern equipment and comfortable surroundings for the crew, as well as the distinctive red sweeping across the exterior. Measuring more than 260ft from bow to stern, the new Altaire is nearly the longest ship in the Shetland fishing fleet. But it is her width that makes the vessel such a standout. She currently has a crew of 12 but there is space for more on board. 5 photos, >click to read< 08:56
Government shelving HPMAs a ‘cautious win’ for industry
There remains concern from Shetland Fishermen’s Association, however, that an alternative could be worked up by government which may end up being similar to HPMAs. SFA officer Sheila Keith said one fisherman told her after news of the U-turn that the government had only kicked HPMAs into the “long grass” for a while. On Thursday the Scottish Government announced that after consulting communities it would be dropping its proposal for HPMAs. Keith commented that the SFA welcomed the news, but said it was a case of wait and see regarding what the government’s alternative “pathway” will be. She said the government has “basically just bought themselves time”. >click to read< 08:59
Recommendation made to MCA as man overboard investigation concludes
An investigation into the fatal man overboard incident on a Shetland trawler in 2021 has resulted in a recommendation being made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to amend regulations around fishing boats having the means to recover an unconscious person from the water. No recommendations have been made to the owners of the Copious, 60 North Fishing (Shetland) Ltd, in light of the actions they have taken. Since the fatal accident the owners have brought in a replacement Copious, bought man overboard recovery equipment and upgraded lifejackets. Edison Lacaste, 45, died in the early hours of 18 February 2021 when he fell overboard from the Copious LK985 while the vessel was trawling 30 miles southeast of Sumburgh. >click to read< 17:19
Joy as new Altaire is launched in Denmark
The new 80 metre Altaire LK429 was launched at the Danish shipyard Karstensens Skibsværft, in Skagen, at the weekend. A large group of crew, family members, friends and invited guests travelled to Denmark for the occasion. The large pelagic trawler was ordered in December 2020 and will based at the Collafirth Pier. At 79.95 metres in length and a beam of 16.60 metres, Altaire is powered by a Wärtsilä 12V31 main engine driving a two-speed gearbox and a 4200mm propeller. 2 photos, >click to read< 17:01
Pelagic industry at loggerheads with government over new landing rules
The industry, consisting of 20 large pelagic trawlers including eight based in Shetland, said it stands to lose millions of pounds in revenue should it be legally required to land 55 per cent of mackerel and herring at Scottish ports. The requirement to demonstrate what is known as “a real economic link” of vessels to the country they are registered and licensed in is nothing new. In the past, fishing companies could comply with the rules by either landing 50 per cent of its quota into UK ports or employing crew of which 50 per cent lived in the UK, or by spending half of its operating cost in the UK. >click to read< 09:44
No wonder communities are worried
Thank you for your report on fishing industry concerns over the potential loss of fishing grounds to offshore wind developments, which gives rise to several questions: Mr Newcombe of the Orion project boldly demands the equivalent of 67 Viking Energy (VE) wind farms (30GW) be installed on fishing grounds around Shetland so that he can produce humongous amounts of hydrogen at Sullom Voe. Throw in the SNP-Greens’ forthcoming ‘highly-protected marine areas’ (HPMAs) and is it any wonder Shetland’s biggest industry and the communities dependent on it are worried? Is it appropriate to impose development on such a scale on a small, island community that has no control over the planning of it? Does the SIC accept the implied destruction of the fishing grounds, effectively, forever, as a direct result? >click to read< 08:41
SSE’s choice of guard boats ‘a kick in the teeth’ for local fishing crews
A local fishing body has questioned the “community spirit” of SSE (Renewables) after guard work was handed to two vessels “masquerading” as local fishing boats. Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) said SSE’s decision to award the contracts to Genesis and Dauntless – who were both recently registered in Lerwick – “flies in the face” of the companies promises to co-exist at sea with local crews. The Genesis and Dauntless were previously registered in Banff, and are currently guarding interconnector cable work. “Now, we see SSE handing off this work to boats that no longer fish, have never been based in Shetland, employ no Shetland crew and have no Shetland ownership. >click to read< 14:07
New demersal trawler COPIOUS LK 985 delivered to 60 North Fishing
The vessel is the first of a pair of sister vessels for the company and was built in Croatia by Tehnomont shipyard to a full design package supplied by Macduff Ship Design. The vessel completed her delivery trip to Shetland, through the Mediterranean, up the west coast of Portugal, Spain and Ireland, arriving in Shetland on the morning of the 14th January just in time for the islands fire festival Up Helly Aa. The second vessel to be named ‘Prolific’ is set to be delivered later in the year. Photos, >click to read< 08:01
New campaign encourages fishermen to land catch in Shetland
Lerwick Port Authority and Shetland Islands Council – who run markets in Lerwick and Scalloway respectively – are behind the project. They said there are “clearly significant cost and carbon footprint savings” from landing in Shetland. More than half of all the fish landed in the UK comes from within 100 nautical miles of Shetland. The two fish markets in Shetland are relatively new, with both launching in 2020. The Lerwick market offers fishing boats working to the east of Shetland a convenient opportunity to land their catch, while Scalloway suits the west. Video, >click to read< 16:58
Arrival of the new F/V Copious the ‘ultimate expression of confidence’
Lerwick’s jarl squad had just revealed its beautiful galley to the public for the first time on Tuesday morning when another, even more impressive, new build sailed into Lerwick Harbour for the first time. It took Mark Anderson and his crew 17 days to complete the journey from the Croatian Tehnomont shipyard to Lerwick’s Mair’s Quay. At 24.9 metres in length and fitted with a 588kw engine, both Copious and her sister vessel Prolific have been designed to be more eco-friendly and as such more economical. Designed by Macduff Ship Design, the two new vessels have a beam of nine metres and provide accommodation for up to 12 crew members. Anderson said they would have a crew of eight when fishing. >click to read< 09:45
Squid at record levels around Shetland
While haddock continues to be the most abundant stock, more than three times the average amount of squid was identified by the 2022 Shetland Inshore Fish Survey (SIFS) carried out by UHI Shetland. Environmental change is the most likely explanation for the phenomenon, given that squid are relatively short-lived and breed only once. ‘The high catches of squid recorded in 2022 were a widespread feature of the data in that they were observed in survey areas all around Shetland. Overall, these catches corresponded to the highest relative abundance of squid yet recorded in the survey timeseries,’ said Dr Shaun Fraser, Senior Fisheries Scientist at UHI Shetland. >click to read< 12:25
Shetland suffers dip in fish landings but expectations high for next year
The last fish market of the year was earlier today. Shetland Seafood Auctions confirmed a total of 338,627 boxes had gone through the fish markets in Scalloway and Lerwick during 2022. Auction manager Martin Leyland said the amount of white fish landed over the course of the year was slightly below expectations. He cited the energy crisis, which forced many boats to tie up for a spell earlier this year, as well as poor cod quota as the main reasons behind the lower-than-expected figures. >click to read the rest< 13:53
Vindicated: Fishing industry celebrates big rise in cod quota
Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Simon Collins said on Friday that skippers feel vindicated after arguing that catch allocations in recent years did not reflect the reality on the grounds. For years, fishermen have said they have never seen so many cod which is now evidenced through the latest assessments which describe key commercial stocks as at their highest level for decades. “Deficiencies in stock assessment processes are finally being addressed, and the science is now catching up with reality, proving that fishermen have had the right of it,” he said. >click to read< 13:53
‘Cable corridors’ to stop boats cutting off island’s phone and internet
The archipelago in the North Sea lost phone, broadband and mobile services last month after a subsea cable was damaged. Faroese Telecom, the cable operator, said they believed it had been cut by fishing vessels. It was later confirmed by the Scottish Government that a fishing trawler hit the primary cable. There are now proposals for a designated corridor for undersea infrastructure cables to run along. It is hoped that these would give greater certainty to fishermen, as well as reducing the risk of telecommunications outages in future. >click to read< 10:45
