RARE VISITORS . . .
Many of Orkney’s regular wildlife inhabitants are enough to turn heads, but every so often, something comes along that is enough to hit the headlines.
“Wally” the walrus was spotted basking in the sun in Sanday shores in 2018, and went on to be seen all over the place on his rare travels south!
Later that year, a huge Atlantic bluefin tuna was discovered washed up on a beach in Sanday by an islander who is actually allergic to the fish . . .
Malcolm Sinclair made the discovery at Bea Sand following a stormy evening.
He pulled the two-metre-long fish up the beach using a tractor, so that more folk could get the opportunity to see it.
Malcolm’s wife Jackie later posted a picture of the fish on Facebook, and was shocked to discover how much the prized fish are worth, when landed fresh from tuna fishing boats — they can reach thousands of pounds each, when destined for the lucrative sushi market.
However, because it was found dead on the beach, Jackie said that eating the fish would be “the maritime equivalent to eating roadkill”, and so turkey would still be on the Christmas menu rather than tuna! Ultimately, she said, the fish would be buried, adding that her husband is actually allergic to tuna anyway!
According to Sanday Ranger Emma Neave-webb, this was the third bluefin tuna to wash up in Scotland this year.
She said that the fish looked very fresh, and added that she intended to dissect it to identify a cause of death before it was buried.