Everything is now in place for a new fish processing venture to open its doors in Newhaven.
Lewes District Council allocated just over £1m to the project from a £12.68m government grant to improve infrastructure for the town’s commercial fisheries, with a community interest company was set up to oversee the scheme.
Lewes District Council purchased an industrial unit on the Oak Estate to house the processing plant, and outfitting the unit with a chiller, freezer, forklift truck, pallet truck, an ice machine and storage containers.
With legal documents now in place, Newhaven Fishing CIC board members are reviewing a draft lease and grant funding agreement that will allow them to buy CCTV equipment and technological hardware for the building.
‘I am delighted that very soon the plant will be in operation, making a real difference to the fishing community, who will be able to land their catch nearby, process the fish and use the freezers for storage,’ said Councillor Zoe Nicholson, leader of Lewes District Council, and one of the board members.
‘This is really important in retaining the value of the catch in Newhaven, opening up opportunities to wider markets in the future.’
The CIC, which has a focus on sustainable fish products and sustainable fishing techniques, is working with the Newhaven fishing community. It is currently looking into branding fish fingers that could be used for school lunches and working with Lewes Food Partnership.
