Seafood industry worth more to Shetland than oil

Around 50 people gathered at the NAFC Marine Centre last week for the launch of the £74,000 'So Much to Sea' initiative.

The campaign is initially directed at Shetlanders in the hope of generating a greater understanding of the social and economic impact the industry has on local communities, acording to Sheltand News

A series of events in halls including cooking demonstrations and seafood tastings are planned between now and the end of March.

Opening the event, chief executive of trades body Shetland Seafood, Ruth Henderson, reminded those present that the industry was worth more to the islands than oil and gas.

Yet, the significance of the £300 million aquaculture and processing sector wasn't even fully understood and anticipated across Shetland, she said

It employs about 1,000 people directly and hundreds of others in, for example, fish processing, marketing, transport, supply and engineering.