A financial injection of £18.7 million is going into ten projects across Scotland through the Infrastructure Scheme, aiming to improve ports, harbours, processing and aquaculture facilities.
A further £2.1 million is being routed to four Scottish projects through the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) scheme to provide vital research that will inform fisheries management.
These projects are supported by in excess of £74 million in match funding from alternative private or public contributions.
Funding is also available for the catching sector across the UK to replace or modernise engines to reduce emissions, improve reliability and enable new technologies to be tested.
Government sources state that the scope for the Fleet Modernisation Round is being extended to include all commercial vessels.
‘I’m delighted that almost £21 million UK Seafood Fund investment is being shared across 14 Scottish projects. The fund is a crucial part of our commitment to help level up coastal communities and deliver the Prime Minister’s priorities of growing the economy and creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country,’ said UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont.
‘We are supporting fishing communities across the UK so they benefit from better infrastructure, new jobs and investment in skills to ensure they have a long-term and sustainable future. In total the UK Government is today awarding £45.6 million from the UK Seafood Fund.’
