NAFC at Skipper Expo

30 May 2016 - The NAFC Marine Centre was part of a strong Shetland presence amongst the 194 exhibiting companies at the Skipper Expo trade show in Aberdeen last week.

Business was brisk from the first day with hundreds of visitors with a range of interests and there was a lot of activity around the Shetland stand which included SIC Scalloway Harbour, SSQC, the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) and Shetland Seafood Auctions as well as the NAFC Marine Centre.

Staff from these organisations were also able to take the opportunity to visit and learn from other exhibitors in the relaxed atmosphere of the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre as well as meet old friends. Safety demonstrations on flotation and sea survival equipment and cooking demonstrations of fabulous fresh fish were well attended.

Prior to the opening of the Expo, Fishing News hosted the Fishing News Awards, brought back after an eight-year absence to celebrate the men and women who work long hours, often in extremely difficult conditions, to put healthy and sustainable food on the table. The 2016 awards featured a number of Shetland nominees, including NAFC’s own Leslie Tait – nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Amongst the winners were the new Shetland fishing boat Guardian Angell (LK 272), which saw off stiff competition from nine other UK nominees to be named boat of the year. And Ian Shearer, skipper of the Courageous (LK 470), was named joint winner of the Young Fisherman of the Year award.

The final day of the Expo saw the signing by Bobby Polson and partners of Whalsay of the order for the new 82 metre Serene, to be built at the Karstensens shipyard in Denmark for delivery in June 2018.

All participants thought that the Expo had been very successful and well worth attending, with many positive signs of renewed confidence and optimism in the fishing industry in Shetland and beyond.