An increase in fishing boat arrivals contributed to an overall rise in the number of vessels using Lerwick Harbour, Shetland, in the first half of 2015.
But the rise in fishing boat arrivals, spurred by an improvement in weather conditions compared to the same period last year, was not reflected in an increase in fish landings.
Some 20,430tonnes of fish was landed in the first six months of the year, down 42% year-on-year, mainly due to a drop in mackerel landings in January and February, though white fish volumes went up 1.3% to 4,739tonnes.
Offshore industry arrivals were down 12% amid a downturn in the oil and gas sector that impacted North Sea activity levels, including west of Shetland.
In total, 2,930 vessels used Lerwick Harbour in the six months, up 7% on 2014.
Shipping tonnage was flat on 5.5million gross tonnes, while the volume of cargo handled sank 13% to just under 500,000tonnes.
Overall passenger arrivals slipped despite a 1.5% rise in footfall from ferries between Lerwick, Kirkwall and Aberdeen.
The number of visitors coming ashore from cruise ships dropped 36% to 12,168, dragging the total passenger figure down 7% to 73,542.
Any downturn in cruise ship passenger figures is likely to be fleeting, however.
Lerwick Port Authority chief executive Sandra Laurenson said next year’s cruise season is shaping up to be a record breaker, with 70 liners and 52,000 passengers booked in already.
In recent years, the port has welcomed about 50 cruise ships per season.
Ms Laurenson said turnover at half-year is on target, but sounded a note of caution over continuing “difficult international markets for mackerel” and by the “timing of any recovery in oil activity”.
Despite those concerns, the LPA is confident that ongoing upgrade work at the harbour will pay off, Ms Laurenson said.
The authority is spending nearly £12million on quayside expansion at Dales Voe South, where the length of the quay is almost trebling to nearly 430ft in an attempt to “future-proof” it for a range of new opportunities and clients.
The upgrade, which is due to be completed in April 2016, is aimed at boosting its subsea capabilities and supporting an expected increase in decommissioning work.
The LPA is also investing £16million-plus in a new jetty at Holmsgarth North and plans are at an advanced stage for a new white fish market at Mair’s Quay.