1 April, 2008

SHETLAND'S NAFC Marine Centre has appointed a new interim director who will begin the job tomorrow (Wednesday).

Professor Tony Hawkins is a consultant who knows the Scalloway fisheries college well after carrying out a strategic review of the institution for Shetland Islands Council.

Professor Hawkins will take up the post for at least three months until a full time replacement is found. Trustee Ertie Nicolson has been temporarily holding the fort since previous director Peter Dryburgh resigned last month.

Mr Nicolson said a wide range of knowledge in all aspects of marine subjects would be required for the challenging position.

“Whoever we get needs to have a pretty wide scope. The college is made out of so many different sections,” he said

Mr Nicolson added that Professor Hawkins may stay longer than three months depending on how long it takes for a suitable replacement to become available.

“When you advertise for somebody, that very person could be sitting on our doorstep, but if you get a person who is in this kind of work they may have to give anything up to three months notice, so it all takes time,” he said.

The job will be advertised across Shetland, the UK and Europe with a lot of interest expected.