£1.4 million for Western Isles fishing industry 23/7/14
Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFG) across Scotland are set to benefit from £1.4 million
of research projects designed to improve and maintain their sustainable management
measures.
This funding forms part of the latest round of European Fisheries Funding
(EFF) announced by the Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead during a visit
to the Western Isles.
These grants will support 109 new projects through £6 million funding and enable
investment of over £14 million in sea fisheries, aquaculture and processing industries.
The
inshore fisheries funding is towards establishing the location of fishing activities
within inshore areas; identifying fishery impacts; defining the environmental footprint
and availability of stocks; developing economic value within local fisheries and;
establishing an information resource base to assist the management of inshore fisheries.
Speaking
from the Western Isles Mr Lochhead said: “Inshore fishing is vital to Scotland and
to many of our coastal communities and the fleet lands fantastic, top quality, high
value products that are exported all over the world. This funding will help improve
sustainable practices bringing further benefits to these communities.
“This is the
final round of grants under the EFF which will be replaced by the European Maritime
and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and brings the total funding for this scheme to almost
£84 million. This has brought real benefits to fishermen, processors and the aquaculture
industries across Scotland.
"This latest round of grants is expected to trigger capital
investment of £14.6 million, when the contribution made by businesses themselves
is taken into account. Companies and individuals around the country are set to benefit,
from fishing ports of the North East to the South West, from the Western Isles to
the Northern Isles.”
Duncan MacInnes, Secretary of the Western Isles Fisherman’s Association said: “This latest round of EFF awards is welcome news here in the Western Isles. As well as grants for individual vessels, the research projects being funded will be of huge benefit to fishermen working in the inshore waters of Scotland.”