SHETLAND SALMON FARMERS COME TO THE RESCUE

Shetland salmon farmers come to the rescue. Salmon farmers in Shetland stepped up to rescue tourists and ensure vulnerable, elderly locals had heating during heavy snow. Roads and homes were blanketed in snow as freezing temperatures gripped the islands, with teams from Cooke Scotland and Scottish Sea Farms among those lending a hand.

Keith Leslie, seawater site manager at Cooke’s Burrastow site, helped two separate groups of visitors who became stuck at the popular Sands of Sound beach in Lerwick in January. He towed the car of a family of three up a steep hill near his home and their rented accommodation. The family, who were visiting from India, feared they would miss their ferry to Aberdeen after becoming stranded in deep snow near the shore, with time running out before their departure.

Keith said:

“Their Mercedes was rear wheel drive, an automatic car with summer tyres – there was no way it was making it up the hill. When the snow came down, I don’t think they had thought about how they were going to get out. They were very panicked because they were trying to catch their evening ferry. Where I live is near the top at the beach, it’s a very popular place for tourists to go. I told them not to worry and managed to tow them up the hill.”

The following day, a couple from Japan also needed rescuing after they went looking for prime visiting destinations according to Google, with no apparent thought for the road conditions.

Keith added:

“Google gave the beach nine out of 10, but the couple may have rated it differently after their hired Corsa ended up stuck down at the bottom. This was the worst snow we’ve had in five years, and I couldn’t believe they had even attempted to get to the beach. Even the snow plough did not manage it because the snow was so deep. The man turned up at my door with a shovel, and luckily I was able to tow them to safety to get them on their way.”

Elsewhere in Shetland, Scottish Sea Farms teams pitched in to deliver coal to remote areas when heavy snow threatened to cut off communities. Score Holms farm manager Drew Ward responded to a request to deliver coal to the most remote homes.

Drew said:

“A former colleague who now runs one of the Jewson branches put up a post on Facebook saying they were struggling to get their trucks out to some areas. We have a 4×4 pickup and a trailer so I got in touch with him right away and offered the vehicle, the trailer and four or five men. On the first day we were able to get coal to two homes, both to vulnerable elderly people out in the country. On the second day we went as far north in mainland Shetland as you can go on the road with a trailer full of coal. One of the residents there was down to his last few bags of coal when we arrived. Helping each other out is normal here.”

Jewson said it was “good to see local companies pull together in times of need.”

Scottish Sea Farms workers in Setterness also helped clear the Lunna road during the heaviest snowfall. Salmon farming contributes £91 million a year to Shetland’s economy and supports around 1,000 jobs across the islands.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

“Shetlanders help each other out in heavy weather and our salmon farmers are no exception. Our farmers live here too, so helping neighbours and visitors alike is simply part of island life.
Salmon farms and the people who work there are an integral part of the community here, and it’s great they were able to come to the rescue of tourists and locals during the winter storms.”

Image: Wintry weather at Sandwick, Northmavine., Salmon Scotland