The value of fish landings in Shetland soared last year as the quality of catches increased significantly.
Turnover from white-fish laid down on quays in Lerwick and Scalloway rose by 8% to £27.15million.
Pelagic landings – mainly mackerel and herring – made £45.16million, which was up by 2% on 2013.
For the second year in a row more than 300,000 boxes of white-fish were landed – 16,306 tonnes in total – and the amount of pelagic fish brought ashore rose by 2% to 60,149 tonnes.
Shellfish volumes fell by 4% on the previous year but their value increased, giving a total turnover of £3.90million.
The total value of fish landed increased by 4% to £76.2million, with volumes up by 6% at 78,365 tonnes.
Shetland’s latest figures, compiled by NAFC Marine Centre senior policy adviser Ian Napier using UK Marine Management Organisation statistics, follow value and volume increases of 24% and 10% respectively in 2013.
Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation chief executive Brian Isbister said many of the key fish stocks around the islands were now more abundant than they have been in years, while their quality was very high.
He added: “Skippers, some of whom have been at sea for 20-30 years, are catching more good quality fish than they ever have.
“We are working together in Shetland to make sure all elements of the industry push in the same direction.
“Our shoreside facilities – such as the electronic auction and community-based organisations like Shetland Seafood Quality Control, established many years ago – have been integral to our current success, where we are achieving premium prices for some stocks.”
Shetland’s seafood industry, including the aquaculture and processing sectors, is said to be worth more than £300million a year.
It employs about 1,000 people directly and hundreds of others in, for example, fish processing, marketing, transport, supply and engineering.
The total economic value is worth more to the islands’ economy than the figures for oil and gas, agriculture, tourism and the creative industries combined.