Shetland Fishermen’s Association has today published its manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood elections, 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.
With just over 23,000 residents, 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.
“If fisheries policy works for Shetland, it will work for Scotland,” said SFA executive officer Sheila Keith.
“Here, the stakes are highest, the pressures most acute and the opportunities most significant. The industry in Shetland deserves much stronger support across government.”
The manifesto sets out a series of clear priorities for the next Scottish Parliament, including:
- A Shetland-specific fisheries strategy that reflects the diversity and economic importance of the local fleet.
- Fair allocation of marine funding, recognising Shetland’s disproportionate contribution to Scotland’s seafood economy.
- A pause 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- A balanced approach to Marine Protected Areas and marine planning, with meaningful local involvement and safeguards for sustainable harvesting.
- Increased investment in Shetland-based marine science, stock assessment, climate research and inshore fisheries management.
- 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.
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Targeted action on workforce and safety, including Shetland-specific training, apprenticeships and better alignment between education and industry needs.
In 2024 alone, Shetland vessels landed over £200 million worth of fish and shellfish, including mackerel, herring, cod, haddock, monkfish, crab and scallops. That first-sale value generates an estimated £344.5 million in total economic output across the islands.
The catching sector directly employs more than 430 Shetland residents, with spending by vessels and businesses overwhelmingly retained within the local economy.
Shetland is also home to one of Europe’s leading pelagic processing facilities, alongside high-quality whitefish and shellfish processors, making the islands a major exporter of premium seafood to European and global markets.
Crucially, seafood exports help make Shetland a net exporter of goods, offsetting high transport costs and supporting the viability of island communities.
The manifesto highlights that Shetland’s fishing industry faces distinct pressures, including remote geography, rising costs, growing competition for sea space, offshore wind development, Marine Protected Areas and post-Brexit access arrangements that have left many local fishermen feeling exposed and disadvantaged.
These pressures are felt particularly acutely because Shetland’s fleet is predominantly made up of small, family-owned businesses. Policy changes therefore have immediate and profound impacts on livelihoods, traditions and the social fabric of island communities.
Shetland’s fishing industry produces low-emission, high-protein, renewable seafood and is a key part of climate-smart food systems.
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.
The SFA is urging all Holyrood candidates to commit to standing up for the industry.
“When Shetland thrives, Scotland’s seafood sector thrives. We are calling on every candidate to recognise that and to stand up for Shetland fishing.”