111 arrivals for the period
Whitefish totalled 21,520 boxes from twelve Scottish trawlers, thirteen Anglo vessels; ten long-liners and three freezer netters. The Scottish lads continue to scratch out a living at Rockall with the post spawning haddocks fattened up, plus monkfish, megrim and cod as a by-catch. A couple of boats have changed their fishing gear to try for squid with little success; it is hoped that they will appear in July as has been the case in previous years. The Anglo long-liners continue to fish west of the Butt of Lewis along the deep-water edge for primarily hake and ling and report decent catches. The freezer netters work further offshore processing and freezing their catches of predominantly monkish, landing every 6-8 weeks. The gifting of extended access to the EU fleet by the UK government may well be something and nothing as it seems a ban on bottom trawling is the next initiative to hit the sector.
Shellfish activity was busier than usual for May with forty-eight prawn trawl landings combining with the resident fleet. Skippers continue to report good returns for their efforts.
Non-fishing made up 40% of arrivals with calls from seventeen aquaculture workboats, ten cruise ships (including three superyachts) and nine survey vessels. Aquaculture has become a vital part of harbour business in recent years with a fleet of vessels using Ullapool as their Scottish base. Cruise business has continued to flourish with several maiden visits in the forty scheduled calls for 2025 carrying 31,000 visitors to the area. Superyacht visits are unusual; this month proved exceptional with three vessel visits for changeovers and fuel including My Lady (pictured) who called in for fuel and stores before heading north to the Faroe Islands.
Now that the latest harbour projects are complete and operational, the focus is on repairs and maintenance including repairs to the fender damage at the ice plant which was badly buckled when stuck hard by a Scottish trawler. Contactors have prefabricated the new steel and are expected to complete the repairs over the next two weeks, weather permitting.