Hannah Fennell and Sheila Keith are the new president and vice president of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SSF). The association announced it earlier today, welcoming them both after they were elected at the organization's recent annual general meeting in Orkney.
With warm words, Elspeth Macdonald, SFF Executive Director, welcomed the two new women to the team. "It's a great pleasure to welcome Hannah and Sheila into their new roles, and I look forward to working with them as we represent our members' interests and promote this great industry."
As for Fenell's career experience, she is a director of the Orkney Fisheries Association and is currently undertaking a Ph.D. on exploring the impacts of fisheries through systematic review and meta-analysis with Heriot-Watt University. However, she has several fisheries-related projects to her credit, mainly in research and development strategies. A background that lays the foundation for her new position in the FSS as president.
Fennell expressed her gratitude for the trust and responsibility placed on her and added her commitment to the FFS. "As president, I am committed to continuing the good work of the FFS, tirelessly advocating for the interests of our fishing industry and coastal communities." Furthermore, she continued, "I am excited about the opportunities ahead and the potential to have a positive impact on the lives of our hard-working fishermen."
The new vice president also has a long history in the industry. Keith is an executive officer of the Shetland Fishermen's Association and has a strong foundation in administration.
"I am delighted to take over as vice-chairman of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and thank my predecessors for their hard work to date." Furthermore, she pointed out that the industry would encounter numerous challenges, but with teamwork, they could tackle them. She also highlighted her objective in her speech: "building a viable and sustainable future for the Scottish fleet."
Thus the appointment of Hannah Fennell, Ian Gatt, who retired after his second term of office, thanked SSF after ten years of service out of the fifty years that the federation has existed.
"It's been a real delight to serve a fantastic industry that works so hard in a difficult environment […] I look forward to continuing to support the work of the federation on the executive committee as an SPFA representative. I wish Hannah and Sheila well in their new task of leading the federation work in dealing with the many issues that our industry faces," said Gatt farewell.
The inception of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) dates back to 1973. Their a primary mission of safeguarding and enhancing the shared concerns of Scotland's diverse fishermen's associations. Through strategic engagement, the Federation vigorously champions the welfare of Scottish fishermen on both domestic and global platforms. Furthermore, the SSF assumes a pivotal role in contributing to critical spheres such as fisheries science, marine ecosystem management, inshore fisheries governance or marine spatial planning, among others.
