Director's Blog

Friday 18th December 2009

OK...from the number of emails I've received from near and far I must assume that you lot out there don't like cliffhangers! You all want to know whats going to be happening now...not wait until next year. In a phone conversation with my Dad yesterday evening even he wanted to know whether I'd be doing another blog update before Christmas...so here it is.

Next year is going to be busy. We had our initial budget meeting with the Economic Development Unit yesterday and agreed that our budget proposal for next year is realistic and hopefully achievable. The next stage will be for the proposal to go before the Shetland Island Council Development Committee on the 21st January for formal approval. A particularly good point is that over the last 3 years the Marine Centre has strategically increased its income from other external sources which has meant that the proportion of our funding which we get from the local Council has steadily decreased. One of our core strategic aims for the next 5 years is to continue this trend.

The last 2 days have been very busy indeed with a visit to Shetland of both Pelamis Wave Power and also Vattenfall Energy. This is due to the joint development of a proposed wave energy farm off the coast of Shetland. This would be the largest wave farm in the world and is a huge step forward in the drive for clean renewable energy. Obviously the project is still only in its early stages but The Marine Centre will be playing a key part in this process.

We have been successful in two crucial bids into the Eurpean Fisheries Fund. These funds will support 2 projects which are aimed to help the Shetland aquaculture community recover after the recent ISA outbreak. One will be to deliver RSPCA approved Animal welfare courses to the local industry whilst the other one will be looking at the use of bioassays in the management of Sea Lice.

Next year will also see The Marine Centre welcoming research staff and a PhD student from one of our collaborative partners, The Universsity of New Brunswick in Canada. This project will be looking at identifying and isolating possible bio-active compounds from local seaweed. These bioactive compounds have been found to have anti-bacterial properties and, if present, can be used in the development of pharmaceutical drugs for human use.

Ten years ago today, Councillor Loretta Hutchison (then Chair of the Development Committee) performed the official opening ceremony of the Marine Hatchery. The Ceremony happened upstairs in what was once a classroom. Local dignitaries, NAFC staff and quite a bit of snow all made an appearance that day...

Funded by SIC and ERDF, the vision was for a training and research facility, supporting R&D into marine aquaculture opportunities for Shetland. Although activity was suspended for almost 3 years, the hard work from staff past and present has realised this vision time and time again.

The facility has had many guises including office space, classrooms and tank space. There has been a huge breadth of activity in the facility including:

Research and Development into -

Lobsters, Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Halibut, Wolffish, Mussels, Brown Crab larvae, Salmonid diets

Training -

Leonardo da Vinci Students, Regular studentships from France and Spain, Nuffield Studentships, HNC Fish Farming, BSc. Honours Projects, MSc. Projects, Part-time PhD studentships, EDH and Gear Tech courses, Nautical classroom.

Many of the projects that I've mentioned above will be being run in our Marine Hatchery. Happy Birthday!

I think I've hopefully given you a glimpse of what next year has in store for us all here. This year has been good...next year will be even better.

David

Monday 14th December 2009

Well I can't believe that it is that time of year again! The adverts have been on the TV for weeks now so I should have gotten the message by now...but there is still just so much to do.

Our budget submission for next year needs to be finalised with The Economic Development Unit so that it can be submitted for consideration by the Shetland Development Committee in January 2010. For the first time we have been invited by the Chief Executive of the Council to submit a 3 year rolling budget which hopefully will allow us some greater degree of strategic planning. However we are well aware of the current economic climate and so have had to make some pretty hard decision over the last few weeks.

The staff Christmas party is set for the afternoon of the 22nd and arrangements are well underway to make it a cracking event. The staff here have worked incredibly hard this year, especially with new management coming in and changing things here, there and everywhere. They have accepted the changes with a positive attitude and enthusiasm...which makes my job much easier.

...and so as one year comes to an end we start planning for the next! I don't want to spoil it for you and so I'm going to leave you with a cliff hanger...

Have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year from all at The NAFC Marine Centre!

David 

Tuesday 1st December 2009

Goodness...December is upon us already. In fact today is a very special day as it is 1 year exactly since I took up the posty of Director here at The NAFC Marine Centre...and what a year it has been.

Its always difficult when "some new guy" comes in as he is more than likely going to change things and "shake things up a bit". ..and I'm no different. But the staff here have actually been very good about it all. They have met the changes with enthuiasm and good humour (which should never be under-estimated) and have risen to the challenge ahead.

We have written a new Strategic Document which gives us a roadmap for our development over the next 5 years including 5 key strategic aims.

We have carried out a full self-assessment process and started on the road to achieving the EFQM Committed to Excellence award.

We now have an agreed business continuity plan and also a corporate risk register. We have undertaken a review of our marketing brand and identity.

Da Haaf restaurant now has a new Manager in place and Head Chef and the team have written a new 3 year business plan with a vision to becoming Shetlands premier Seafood restaurant.

We have agreement from the Scottish Funding Council for funding for our Merchant Navy Cadetship programme from next year.

...and thats just for starters...the list just goes on and on.

We are currently working on our funding submission for next year which will need to be submitted to the Shetland Island Council before the Christmas break...so the next 3 weeks are going to be fun!