17 April, 2008

SHETLAND Seafood Auctions has reported another successful year with an increase in landings for 2007.

The auction company says the value of white fish landed rose by 18 per cent to £19.5 million, with a 14 per cent increase in tonnage to 12,969 tonnes.

The results have been attributed to an increase in the size of the Shetland fleet to 26 vessels, along with landings by 51 Scottish boats, five Scandinavian, one Irish and one English vessel, “clearly demonstrating the attractiveness of the islands’ markets for landings”.

Auction manager Martin Leyland said: “Our website is proving to be an extremely useful tool for buyers and sellers involved in the auction process. We publish daily landings up to 18 hours in advance of market as well as market prices on the daily fish prices page.

“We are also focusing our attention on helping the farmed seafood sector achieve similar success with the introduction of a competitive online auction for farmed product.

“Now well established with registered buyers from Shetland, across the UK , Europe and as far afield as the United States, we are heading to the European Seafood Exposition next week to demonstrate its benefits to a global audience.

“Initial indications for the first quarter of 2008 are already showing further increases in tonnage and value so we head to Brussels with great optimism.”