Survival in the storm-battered waters of the Shetland Islands

Storms batter Scotland’s most remote islands – the Shetlands. Surviving in these rough waters is a challenge. Deep in the kelp, the waters are calmer. The large fronds are anchored firmly to the rocks. A long-legged spidercrab clings to the algal growth to avoid being washed away. But filter-feeders, like the sea anenomes, benefit from the rich supply of nutrients churned up by the currents.

Shetland’s waters support huge shoals of fish and orcas, or killer whales. The large hunters are regular visitors to these seas. They travel vast distances in search of foood and will feed on anything, from the smallest fish to the largest whale. These versatile predators usually hunt in groups and are sometimes called the wolves of the sea.