Daily catches of fresh brown crab, all cooked and cleaned in the Westray Processors Ltd factory, form the year-round backbone of shellfish landings.
Lobsters and velvet crabs also provide important, more seasonal, diversity for local creel boats.
Two creel boats work from moorings near the ferry terminal at Rapness, and six creel boats fish from the well-sheltered harbour of Pierowall on the north-east corner of the island.
Fishing brown crab down to depths of 50 fathoms towards the Papa Bank north-west of Westray is the main form of activity for the bigger Pierowall boats.
During poor weather, Pierowall harbour and the outlying bay frequently provide welcome sanctuary for a variety of larger boats, including Anglo-Spanish longliners.
