Hans J Marter

24 April, 2007

THEY are often referred to as unsung heroes. Working quietly in the background, the fishermen's missioners are always at hand for when those working in the fishing industry hit hard times.

This weekend, the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (RNMDSF) celebrated one hundred years of services to the local fishing communities in Shetland.

Local port missioner Peter Dade had organised two days of events to mark the occasion, culminating in a wreath laying at sea ceremony on Sunday lunchtime.

It was a moment of contemplation and remembrance for fishermen and seafarers lost at sea in the often treacherous waters around the island. The national management of the mission and the islands' search and rescue services lent their weight to the affair.

Superintendent Dade said laying a wreath at sea brought home the dangers fishermen still face on a daily basis.

He said the mission had performed a crucial role in the care and support of fishermen and their families, providing emotional as well as practical and financial help when necessary.

"The mission has always been there, not only for injured fishermen, but also for fishermen in their homes as well as retired fishermen. Wherever there is a fishing community you are not far away from a Fishermen's Mission," he said.

These sentiments were shared throughout the local community over the weekend, and given expression at church services, concerts and receptions.

The local fishing industry and search and rescue services paid tribute to the mission's tireless "behind the scenes" work.

Former Whalsay fishing skipper Josie Simpson has been at sea for more than 40 years, and as former chairman of the Shetland Fishermen's Association he has been at the forefront of the complex politics of fishing as well.

He said that whatever port he went to, the mission's man had always been there to make crews feel welcome, often offering the basics such as a warm meal or a hot shower.

As the industry has changed over the years, the mission has had to change with it. A few years back, the local station had to close its café and hostel in the town centre as it was losing money.

Circumstances may change, Mr Simpson said, but he is adamant that the role of the mission nevertheless remains important.

"The fishing industry has changed. There are not the big fleets of boats anymore, but still if something disastrous happens the mission is always there playing their part. And after the incident they are there to give confidence and strength to the people that have been involved," he said.

His views are echoed by Willie Robertson, skipper of the Comrades, Shetland's oldest working whitefish boat.

"The mission is a very important thing especially to ex fishermen and also to fishermen today. The superintendent is very involved in funerals and other parts of community life. This is a great thing for the whole of Shetland; they do a lot of good for the place," he said.

Over the years, the local mission has been involved in a number of big headline grabbing rescue operations which saw the superintendent and his many volunteers ready to rise to the challenge.

In the early nineties, for example, Shetland played host to a massive fleet of East European fish factory vessels - the klondykers - which anchored off the isles buying up herring and mackerel from Scottish fishing boats.

There were up to 80 vessels, often described as rust buckets, with thousands of workers on board. Numerous accidents kept local coastguards busy, with five major incidents over a period of about a year in 1993/94.

Neville Davis, of Shetland Coastguard, said that during that time the local mission station at Harbour Street did a sterling job, housing, clothing and feeding hundreds of stranded fish factory workers.

"What comes to mind immediately is back in the early to mid nineties when the klondyker fleet was here. There were a number of accidents involving those particular ships, involving large numbers of people.

"And the mission was always there to offer assistance, support and care to the people that were involved."

And although things have gone quieter in the waters around Shetland, the tragedy of the anchor handling vessel Bourbon Dolphin which sank off Shetland with the loss of eight lives ten days ago, shows that disaster can strike out of the blue and at any time.

Working at sea - whether at the fishing or the oil industry - is a dangerous job, something Dan Conley, the mission's Southampton based chief executive is very much aware of.

"In 1907 there were a lot more boats around crewed with many more people than at present, and therefore there were a lot more fishermen. One might say that in 1907 it was a more dangerous industry," he said.

"Nowadays there are fewer boats, very large and very efficient in terms of catching fish, but it is still a dangerous industry, as we are still losing around 30 boats off the UK coastline."

And he added: "This is a very important celebration. It marks 100 years presence of the mission in Lerwick.

"But of course we must look into the future, and as long as there is a fishing industry in Shetland, there will be a presence here to support both the active fishermen and the large retired community that live in outlying communities."