Wants Crown Estate bosses to meet Shetland fish farmers

In a letter to Ian Grant, the Crown Estate's current chairman and Scottish Commissioner, Tavish Scott said that local farmers are not seeing prices rising to match increased costs.

"The Shetland industry needs the stability which longer leases and stable charges would bring", he said. Inviting Grant and his successor as Scottish Commissioner, Gareth Baird, to visit Shetland, Scott wrote:

"The industry is of great importance to Shetland and Shetland's contribution to the industry is equally important to the industry. 

"I therefore hope that you will understand why Seafood Shetland would like you to visit Shetland. They would like you to meet those who work in the industry to hear directly from them their ideas on how to allow the industry to develop." 

Ruth Henderson, chief executive of Seafood Shetland, added:

"We welcome Tavish's support and consider that a visit by Ian Grant and Gareth Baird would provide an excellent opportunity to see at first hand how the industry operates and to meet those directly involved.