Funding to support marine economy

Sea fisheries, aquaculture and processing businesses will share more than £4.8 million aimed at boosting growth and creating local jobs.

The fifth round of the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will award grants to 43 projects across Scotland.

The St James Smokehouse Ltd in Gretna is to receive about £1 million to develop a salmon processing factory. This will create 50 jobs locally over the next three years.

The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre will use its £2.2 million grant to take forward a range of projects to develop the salmon industry.

Other projects include £12,155 to the Orkney Sustainable Fisheries Ltd collaborative tagging project, which will work with five inshore fisheries groups to develop data to help manage Scotland’s crab stocks. 

Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“Our maritime economy plays a crucial role in supporting communities across the country, which is why continued investment is important.

“The support of this fund will help processing businesses expand and enhance their work. I’m particularly delighted to see a number of grants going to fishermen to help make their day–to-day routines easier and safer and to improve the quality of their produce.

“Investment in fisheries, aquaculture and processors is crucial to support our ambitions to double the value of the food and drink industry.”

Heather Jones, CEO of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre said:

“This £2.2m award will support innovations involving four companies in Scotland, leveraging further investment from the private sector in new equipment and technologies totalling £9m of capital expenditure. Beyond the numbers, we're thrilled that new technologies are being developed and trialled to improve fish health and to explore farming in higher energy locations around Scotland’s coast.”

Stewart Crichton, chairman, Orkney Sustainable Fisheries Ltd said:

“We are delighted to receive this funding through EMFF and the Scottish Government. 

“Understanding the movement and nature of the brown crabs in our fishery is vital to improving our understanding so we can maximise revenue while ensuring future sustainability of stocks.  This may become even more important when we look at how Scotland manages previous “non-quota” species in the post-Brexit period.

“We hope the collaborative approach with regional Inshore Fisheries Groups working together will be a blue-print for future research.”

Background

The total £4,829,442.50 grant is comprised of:

• £3,622,081.81 from the EU
• £1,194,779.06 from the Scottish Government
• and £12,581.63 from Scottish public bodies, including Scottish Natural Heritage, Shetlands Islands Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Full list of projects is available.