Almost £1.2 million in grants has been awarded to the English fishing industry from the European Fisheries Fund. This follows the £1m awarded in November 2008.
Fourteen projects were approved or conditionally approved at the second EFF Selection Panel held on January 28, and a further three are likely to succeed if further information is forthcoming.
One key project costing over £100,000 will provide a standard technique for industry to identify birds and seals in order to help with environmental assessments. Industry will be able to identify any potential benefits and mitigations for the fishing industry as a result of the introduction of Marine Protected areas.
Good news for the fishermen of Wells-next-the-Sea with grant of £260,000 to provide a brand new shellfish holding facility to improve quality of catch and quayside facilities for local fishermen. The building includes a freezer room and has been designed to withstand the effects of a 1 in 200 year flood risk and surge tides.
Also funded to the tune of £26,000 is a project which will develop a means of integrating traditional Cornish long liner sail designs with modern materials and technologies onto a commercial vessel catching tuna. Initial trials will start in the summer leading on to a full trip to the Bay of Biscay during the season with substantial fuel savings.
The panel did not approve a multi-million pound request for funding for a new fish market in Newlyn but wants to continue to work with local partners to get an application to a stage where it will be successful.
Ray Hedley, Chair of the England Selection Panel and Head of MFA’s Business Relations Team said: “It is really encouraging that good quality projects backed up by properly thought out business cases are coming forward in these difficult economic times. My facilitation team are ever willing to assist those who have ideas to improve the sustainability and competiveness of their businesses to see if grants scheme can assist.”
The next EFF Selection Panel will be held on 21 May 2009.
