Key Contact: Secretary
Fiona Matheson
4 Ferry Terminal Building
Kirkwall Pier
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1HU

Tel: (01856) 871818
Mob: 07725 039183
Fax: (01856) 871919
Email: orkneyfisheries@btconnect.com

Brief history:

Orkney Fisheries Association was established in 1972 when a number of fishermen, merchants and processors initiated the organisation in the face of the threat of joining Europe. The name was chosen to try and provide a unified group across the industry and some merchants and processors have remained members to the present day.

Initially the association was run on a part-time basis with the secretary ship passing to the Council's Development Officer in 1973 and remaining in that office until 1997 when a full time office was instituted. Part of the work has involved the re-establishment of the Orkney Training Association and the formation of an Orkney P.O. The Association is presently in the process of setting up an organisation to supply fuel to the inshore fleet.

Membership covers vessels in the whitefish, prawn, scallop and creel sectors and until recently there was also pelagic interests. This means that Orkney Fisheries Association is engaged in a wide range of activities to provide a service and representation for its members in the various sectors. It has been the policy of Orkney Fisheries Association that there should be an Orkney voice at all important discussions and the office-bearers and secretary endeavour to be present at most industry meetings and seminars. To compliment this we rejoined the SFF in mid 1999 to promote the Orkney view and enlist the wider representation offered by the Federation.

Joint Chairmen: Tam Harcus, Ronnie Norquoy

Joint Vice Chairmen: Iain Harcus, Robbie Hutchison