Information Bulletin
Shetland Invited to take a Leading Role in the North Sea Commission
Around 500 delegates from the North Sea region attended their annual conference recently in Norway.
Council Convener Sandy Cluness, who was previously Vice Chair of the Fisheries Group of the Commission, was invited to attend the conference and has been elected as the Vice-President of the North Sea Commission.
Commenting on his election Mr Cluness said: “I feel this is great honour for Shetland and recognises the high esteem we are held in, by our colleagues around the North Sea. The effective management of our marine environment through the protection and support of our fisheries industries, our dedication to ensuring environmental protection and particularly the recognition of our management in parallel of the major oil related activities at Sullom Voe, has done much to enhance our international reputation at this level”.
The priorities for the North Sea Commission for the coming year were agreed as fisheries, transport, sustainable development, energy, innovation and education.
Mr Cluness went on to say: “I feel there is considerable further opportunity for Shetland to become much more involved in the work of the Commission, particularly in becoming more active in the various EU funded research programmes underway particularly bearing in mind the considerable expertise we have at Sullom Voe and at the North Atlantic Fisheries College and elsewhere in Shetland”.
The Vice-President post is for a 2 year period and carries no remuneration.
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