Following a meeting of the Central Mainland Hamefarin Liaison Group last week the invitation has gone out for locals to take advantage of the coach tours and exhibitions being provided for people returning to Shetland for the event.

There were bumper whitefish landings once again in Scalloway harbour, with a near record 3,639 boxes landed in the week to Friday. The week started with landings from four boats totalling over 850 boxes and the week progressed with consistently good landings each day.

Fish landings were a good average in the week up to Friday, with 1,866 boxes landed at Scalloway.

The week began with an exceptionally high landing from the Alison Kay of 593 boxes, along with further fish from the Gunner’s Glory and the Quiet Waters.

The survey vessel Triad is making regular trips through the harbour as she continues her survey operations in the harbour approaches and the surrounding area.

Firey total

The Scalloway Jarl Squad have now announced the final total of funds raised for charity from their hop day exploits and later hair-clipping “shave-off” bonanza. The spectacular sum they have collected now stands at £8,532.75.

This week saw the much-anticipated return of evening meals being served at Da Haaf Restaurant in the NAFC Marine Centre.

The local eatery that has always specialised in serving quality seafood has been re-vamped to try and provide even better service for its varied lunchtime and evening clientèle and is now comprised of two separate food outlets, both run by the same team.

Harbour activity The main focus of events in the port of Scalloway was the grounding and subsequent rescue of the Buckie-registered fishing vessel Vela last Thursday.

Community council The Scalloway Community Council met on Monday this week and were treated to presentations from SIC staff Colin Gair and Graham MacDonald.

The future of education provision for Scalloway and the school’s wider catchment area now hangs in the balance, with the threat of closure of the school’s secondary department being one of only two viable options presented to parents by the education department of the SIC for their input at a forthcoming public meeting.

Harbour activity The Far Sagaris, one of the largest ships ever to enter Scalloway, paid a brief visit last Friday.

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.