Ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections, Shetland Fishermen’s Association is calling on all candidates for the Scottish Parliament to champion Shetland’s fishing industry and put the islands at the heart of future fisheries policy.
‘If fisheries policy works for Shetland, it will work for Scotland,’ said SFA executive officer Sheila Keith, commenting that Shetland is Scotland’s fishing powerhouse, accounting for around one third of all fish landed in the country by value and a quarter by tonnage.
Despite this outsized contribution, the SFA warns that policy decisions made in Edinburgh and London too often overlook Shetland’s scale, diversity and strategic importance.
‘Here, the stakes are highest, the pressures most acute and the opportunities most significant. The industry in Shetland deserves much stronger support across government,’ Sheila Keith said.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association sets out clear priorities for the next Scottish Parliament starting with a Shetland-specific fisheries strategy that reflects the diversity and economic importance of the local fleet, and fair allocation of marine funding, recognising Shetland’s disproportionate contribution to Scotland’s seafood economy.
SFA is looking to see a moratorium on new offshore wind approvals until impacts on fishing grounds are fully resolved, with robust compensation for any loss of grounds or earnings and protection for irreplaceable grounds such as scallop beds, as well as a balanced approach to Marine Protected Areas and marine planning, with meaningful local involvement and safeguards for sustainable harvesting.
Also on the list is a national commitment to recognise and reward the exceptional quality of Shetland-landed fish, including fundamental reform of the Landing Target so that it supports high-quality, responsible fishing and grows value through the supply chain.
Shetland’s fishing sector is asking for stronger backing for Shetland’s position in quota negotiations and international agreements, protecting long-term access to key fishing grounds in a post-Brexit context, and increased investment in Shetland-based marine science, stock assessment, climate research and inshore fisheries management. Alongside these demands are requests for secure, multi-year funding for Marine Fund Scotland, alongside a full review to ensure it meets the long-term needs of the fishing and seafood industry, and targeted action on workforce and safety, including Shetland-specific training, apprenticeships and better alignment between education and industry needs.
‘When Shetland thrives, Scotland’s seafood sector thrives. We are calling on every candidate to recognise that and to stand up for Shetland fishing,’ Sheila Keith said, and commented that in 2024 the Shetland fleet landed fish and shellfish worth more than £200 million, while that first-sale value generates an estimated £344.5 million in total economic output across the islands.
Seafood exports help make Shetland a net exporter of goods, offsetting high transport costs and supporting the viability of island communities.
‘With the right support, the sector can continue to drive Scotland’s marine economy while delivering sustainable food and significant export value for Scotland and the UK,’ SFA states, and urges all Holyrood candidates to commit to standing up for the industry.
