Shetland fishermen warn that energy and aquaculture projects threaten crucial nursery grounds and fish habitats vital to commercial stocks
Energy and aquaculture developments risk undermining fish stocks, warns island fishing sector
The Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) has sounded the alarm over the growing threat posed by large-scale marine and coastal developments to key fish nursery grounds vital to the long-term health of local fisheries.
The warning follows a new study by UHI Shetland which identifies a number of nearshore areas around the islands where juvenile cod, haddock, whiting and plaice are prevalent — but where adult fish are largely absent. These habitats, with depths of less than 50 metres, calm conditions and sandy, seaweed-covered seabeds, serve as vital rearing grounds before fish migrate into deeper waters targeted by the commercial fleet.
The study, led by Louise Thomason and Dr Shaun Fraser, pinpoints several areas of particular importance: Weisdale Voe and Sandsound Voe to the south of the west mainland; Lunna and Dales Lees on the east coast; and Cole Deep and Skeetlie (Aith Voe) further north.
“These areas are critical to the future of commercial fishing, which is the lifeblood of the Shetland economy, producing highly nutritious and climate-smart food,” said Daniel Lawson, Executive Officer of the SFA. “Both off- and onshore developments are already having an impact, and this vital study highlights how important it is for planners and policy-makers to consider the longer-term knock-on effects of such projects on young and developing fish populations.”
Development pressure building in key juvenile habitats
The UHI Shetland researchers warn that nursery areas identified in the study are under “unprecedented potential pressure” from aquaculture expansion and energy infrastructure. The Billy Baa proposal — a consolidation of four existing salmon farms into a single large-scale unit near Sandsound and Weisdale — is among the most prominent threats.
A similar aquaculture project is being proposed at Fish Holm, close to the identified nursery zones off Lunna and Dales Lees. Meanwhile, the Weisdale Voe seabed has already been disturbed by the HVDC cable installation for the Viking Energy wind farm. A second subsea electricity link to the Scottish mainland is also under discussion, adding to concerns.
“The identification and conservation of nursery areas in the nearshore Shetland environment has clear commercial implications for the sustainability of local fish populations and the wider marine ecosystem,” the study’s authors note.
Call for integrated marine planning
The SFA is calling for much closer integration between fisheries science and marine development policy, to prevent irreversible damage to the very areas that underpin the islands’ fishing economy.
“This research underlines what the local industry has long observed — that healthy stocks start inshore. If we lose these nursery areas, we lose the future of Shetland fishing,” Lawson said.
The study was supported by the Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG) project funds provided by the Scottish Government. The authors express gratitude for this backing, which enabled a closer look at juvenile fish habitats in areas often overlooked by broader marine assessments.
Source: Press Release
