A Brae mussel farmer has come through a programme at one of the world’s most renowned business schools in the USA with flying colours.

NorthLink’s ferries between Shetland and Aberdeen are to leave approximately an hour earlier than at present and run on half power in an effort to cut down on fuel costs, it has emerged following a surprise announcement by the Scottish government.

A study of fishing nets with different mesh sizes aimed at reducing cod by-catch has concluded that too much of other species is lost at the same time to justify their use.

A walk to the beach can turn up all sorts of treasures and beasties, and with the help of a new section of the NAFC’s Marine Centre website, folk will now be able to identify anything unusual that they find.

Lerwick Port Authority has struck a deal with a Norwegian company to develop a deep-water quay at the Dales Voe base north of Lerwick in a bid to attract further decommissioning work from the North Sea.

Shetland’s sail training ship the Swan could soon be touting for busi­ness as a classy dinner venue or an unusual suite for executive functions.

The official naming ceremony of NorthLink’s new freight and livestock ship Hildasay has taken place, with the honours performed by schoolgirl Sophie Wishart who won the competition to name the vessel. There was only a slight hitch, when the obligatory bottle of champagne failed to break.

Shetlanders got their first sight of the new NorthLink cargo boat on Monday when the Hildasay arrived in Lerwick.

By LOUISE THOMASON Shetland Islands Council will not lose its powers of responsibility for fish farms, MSPs decided this week.

Shetland’s existing regulatory powers over salmon farming are in danger of being lost when the Marine Bill is debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

It was a special day in the South Mainland on Friday with its first-ever Up-Helly-A’ festival proving a roaring success.

WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SHETLAND

Friday, 12 March 2010 at 10:42

HEADLINES

TODAY: SCATTERED SHOWERS, COOL NW’LY WIND
TONIGHT: LITTLE CHANGE
TOMORROW: SCATTERED SHOWERS, BREEZY
DAYS 2-5: SOME RAIN OR SHOWERS, LIGHTER WINDS
DAYS 6-10: RAIN OR SHOWERS

Firms in Shetland are facing huge rate rises – some by as much as two-thirds – under the Scottish government’s revaluation of business property which will come into force at the beginning of next month.