Shellfish meetings
Shellfish managers are to review the future operation of the inshore fishery around Shetland as a special 10-year order granted in 1999 moves into its final year.
The Shetland Islands Regulated Fishery Order granted the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation the legal right to manage the commercial fisheries for lobster, crabs, scallops, queens, whelks, razorshells, cockles, mussels and oysters within the area between the low water mark and the six-mile limit.
An NAFC Marine Centre spokesman said over the 10-year period of the order a set of very important data on the shellfish stocks had been collected. That proved invaluable in managing the stocks and understanding the fishery as a whole and as a result Shetland held one of the most complete datasets of this type in Britain.
On Monday, from 7pm to 9pm, creel fishermen are invited to discuss closed periods, renewal of the regulating order and the 2009 stock assessment.
On Saturday 2nd May, from 10am to noon, there is a meeting for scallop fishermen and the same day, from noon until 2pm, there will be a chance for the general public. The meetings are all in the NAFC Marine Centre and everyone is welcome.
