1 March, 2007

NORTHLINK ferries yesterday (Wednesday) agreed to improve communications with the Shetland fishing industry in the event of further cancellations to their service to Aberdeen.

Last week, ferry cancellations lost Shetland fish firms thousands of pounds because fresh product could not reach the mainland in time for processing and sales.

Ferries were cancelled due to poor weather conditions and a high swell in Aberdeen harbour, resulting in Lerwick's fish market being closed for two days.

At yesterday's meeting Shetland fisherman voiced their concerns about the losses they endured. NorthLink responded by agreeing to improved communications between the company and the islands' fishing industry.

NorthLink's commercial director Gareth Crichton said: "It was a fairly positive discussion. The guys put their views across very clearly. We talked about how we can make sure there is a good flow of communication and information in the future.

"The upsurge in the white fish trade is good for us as well. Both parties want stuff on the boat and away.

"We are looking at developing a contact point within the industry we can channel for communication. This would be a shared point of contact for the trade."

The closure of the Lerwick markets last week meant that several Scottish and Shetland boats had to be turned away to sell their fish on the mainland, meaning their catches could not be landed or profited from in Shetland.

Shetland Seafood Auctions manager Martin Leyland said: "We said to NorthLink that they had to understand the impact this had financially and economically on the white fish industry.

"NorthLink have promised to improve communications and give more warning in the future so we have time to react to it. We want to ensure consistency of supply. NorthLink are an important part of this chain.

"We are quite positive about what is going to happen in the future."

Orkney and Shetland MSP Tavish Scott will meet NorthLink in Kirkwall on Monday to further discuss how ferry operation problems for Shetland's businesses can be minimised in future. Other Shetland businesses were also severely affected by last week's events.

Mr Scott stressed the importance to Shetland of the freight service provided by NorthLink. "Freight is vital to the Shetland economy. At all times of the year, Shetland exports white fish, salmon, mussels and livestock, along with a range of other business products.

"The ferries also import perishable goods into Shetland every morning to keep the shops stocked. What I will be reminding NorthLink next week is that freight was included in the new ferry contract specifically because of its importance to Shetland.

"The carriage of freight in and out of Shetland is a fundamental part of the lifeline service NorthLink is contracted to provide. When I meet them I will be stressing the need for better contingency plans to deal with periods of bad weather, as experienced last week."