Plans by the Nergård group in Norway to invest in a processing factory in the Shetland Islands now appear doubtful as the request for additional harbour facilities to be built on Whalsay have been refused, reports Shetland News.
Nergård has claimed that the proposed would be a significant benefit to the local economy but the Shetland Islands Council has baulked at the size of the investment needed.
Acording to a report by development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise, a new processing factory should be located in Lerwick rather than Whalsay, while Nergård’s proposals are for a factory at Symbister for handling both groundfish and pelagic species. But if this were to happen, Symbister harbour would need to be upgraded with a major extension.
According to Nergård chief executive Tommy Torvanger, Whalsay is the idea location, with its fleet close to the fishing grounds and keen to land more of its fish in Shetland.
‘We are talking about tens of thousands of tonnes of mackerel,’ he told Shetland News.
‘On the one hand you have these very successful individuals running efficient companies, and on the other hand there is not even enough room in their home harbour to accommodate their vessels. It is a shame. Fishing is a green industry, it is sustainable and it is forever – it is very sad that the authorities in Shetland are not considering the resources that this group of individuals has gathered and is running out of Whalsay.’
