Bumper fish landings and early arrivals in what is expected to be a record cruise liner season have seen the year get off to a flying start at Shetland’s main harbour.
Figures released by Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) show that, at 2,600 tonnes, the amount of white-fish landed in the three months to the end of March was up 7.8% on the same period in 2017, while the value rose 13% to £4.8million.
There was an increase in the average price of 4.1% to £1,833 per tonne from the first quarter of last year.
LPA said the results underlined Lerwick’s status as a leading port for the white-fish industry.
At 11,150 tonnes, with a value of £12.2million, total landings of white and pelagic fish in the first three months of this year were down 20% on volume and 13.5% on value, compared to 2017. Prices in the pelagic sector were similar to the first quarter of last year, for lower volumes.
LPA chief executive Sandra Laurenson said: “With Lerwick already attracting the second highest fish landings in the UK, recent landings and healthy white-fish stocks reinforce our commitment to continuing investment in the sector, including the replacement white-fish market which begins construction soon.
“An early start to the cruise season is a pointer to an expected record year. The ongoing oil industry downturn again impacted across activity, with vessel arrivals and tonnage and cargo handled all down, and we continue to actively market the port for future field development and decommissioning projects.”
Vessel arrivals in the first quarter of 2018 were down 1.1% year-on-year at 829, with the tonnage lower by 3.3% at 1.8million gross tonnes.
LPA said the reduction was due mainly to shipments being switched from a regular freighter service to roll-on-roll-off ferries last summer and fewer oil vessels arriving.
It highlighted an increased number of roll-on-roll-off ferry visits following the shortened scheduled dry-docking for the two vessels, although the total number of ferry passengers during the quarter was down 3% at 18,419 from last year.
An early start to the cruise season saw two liners arrive in March, with 2,662 visitors helping boost overall footfall at the port by 11.0% to 21,081.
Liner visits are expected to shatter records on a number of fronts.
At almost 92,000, the number of passengers due to arrive is 81% up on last year’s record of 50,768.
With 81 vessels heading for the islands, against 79 in 2016, the busiest season to date, tonnage will leap by 83% to more than 3.9million gross tonnes.
