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Bright future for fishing industry, says LPA chief executive

May 23, 2018 0

Ongoing investment in new infrastructure shows there is a positive future for the fishing industry, according to Lerwick Port Authority chief executive Sandra Laurenson.

Despite uncertainty over fishing policy post-Brexit and a squeezed pelagic market Ms Laurenson said: “The latest investment by the industry and the Port Authority will help

Investment of around £150 million will see the delivery of five new Shetland pelagic vessels during 2018/19. Photo: Gareth Easton/courtesy of LPA

sustain and develop the Shetland sector’s future, harbour activity and the strength of the Shetland economy.”

The port authority will again have a stand at the Skipper Expo International conference in Aberdeen which starts on Friday. Ms Laurenson highlighted multi-million investments that, she says, show there is confidence in the whitefish and pelagic sectors.

One significant development is the £7.6 million replacement whitefish market. Construction started this month and will double the capacity to 1600 square metres. The work, by Tulloch Developments, should be finished in early-2020 and it will be located at the new Mair’s Quay.

The quay and Mair’s Pier was finished last year at Holmsgarth.