Incredible moment skipper spots 'huge' pod of Orcas off Shetland

James Duthie filmed the 'rare' encounter to the east of Shetland on Friday.

A skipper spotted a “huge” pod of killer whales swimming alongside a fishing boat off the coast of Shetland.

James Duthie, who works on board Sunbeam FR487, filmed the ‘rare’ encounter on Friday.

He told STV News: “We were fishing mackerel and the whales were swimming along us as we were going back to the east side of Shetland, not far from shore, where the fish were located.

“We see these Orcas regularly when we fish mackerel at various times of the year, but this time the quantity of whales was particularly high.

“They do jump from time to time, but I’ve never seen a whole pod swim along us while we’re on the move.

“I could honestly say they were all around the boat.”

James said he has noticed more and more killer whales in the area as the years go by.

“I think their numbers are increasing and that shows the health of the seas around Scotland.”

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