The UK government has announced a the latest round of funding to boost the UK fishing industry through projects to upgrade infrastructure and revive local docks.
Winning projects set to receive a share of £20 million include the expansion of processing facilities, alongside money to bring an ageing dry dock back to life.
The UK Seafood Fund is a government investment supporting the long-term future and sustainability of the UK fishing and seafood industry, with the infrastructure strand of the fund supporting upgrades to ports, processing and aquaculture facilities so they can meet future demand.
‘We are delighted our application to redevelop the dry dock at Shoreham Port has been successful. An essential facility for vessel owners, it is one of the few dry docks remaining in the south of England and is part of our proud history, serving users since the 1930s,’ said Tom Willis, chief executive at Shoreham Port, one of the successful bidders.
‘When engaging with the fishing community, investment in improving dry dock capability is consistently highlighted as a priority. The redeveloped Dock will offer excellent dry maintenance facilities for vessels up to 50 metres in length, with workshop access and quayside space. Commencing shortly, the project will be completed by early next summer.’
As well as announcing the winners from the first round of this scheme, the government has today also confirmed a further £30 million will be made available for infrastructure projects as the latest round of funding opens for bidding.
The infrastructure scheme also supports businesses to become more environmentally sustainable, with successful bidders in Round 1 investing in greener technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to more reusable materials.
Other successful bidders from the first round of infrastructure funding receiving a share of £20 million from the government, matched with nearly £50 million of investment from private sources, include HSH Coldstores with an investment in a cold storage and logistics facility to further expand seafood processing in Grimsby and generate new jobs in the area, Scottish company Denholm Seafoods who will install equipment to increase production of mackerel and herring landed at Peterhead, and Cornish based Falfish who will invest in new technology to grade, freeze and pack pelagic fish in support of building two purpose-built sardine fishing vessels.
For the second round of the UK Seafood Fund infrastructure scheme, which is worth £30 million and opens today, businesses will have until March 2025 to deliver their transformational projects meaning a wider range of organisations will be able to apply.
