26 January, 2007

A FLEDGLING mussel farm in Shetland's most northerly isle was given a further lift yesterday (Thursday) with a £50,000 loan from a local development agency.

Shetland Development Trust approved the loan to David Niven and Terry Priest, of Unst Shellfish, in the hope it will create at least two much needed jobs on the island.

Unst has been devastated in recent months by the closure of the RAF base at Saxa Vord, and the resulting exodus of jobs and people.

The local council and other agencies have been pulling out all the stops to help the island back on its feet, and Unst Shellfish is one of the first business enterprises to benefit from such support.

Earlier this month HIE Shetland awarded the company £8,000, with further support coming from the Bank of Scotland.

Speaking after yesterday's announcement, Mr Niven said: "We very much appreciate the confidence shown in us and our business by Shetland Development Trust and their funding partners.

"We firmly believe that over the long term the business has the potential to provide much needed employment opportunities in the north isles."

The loan will help the firm establish their three year development plan, which sees five mussel lines being laid each year, starting last year. The mussels will be grown in three year cycles, first harvest coming in 2009.

Trust chairman Josie Simpson commented: "This business has great potential to supply a top quality product to an existing market. Long term, the partners' objective is to expand the business and add value to the mussels, which will create additional employment opportunities in one of the more remote parts of Shetland."