A Scottish Creel Support Fund has been launched to help fishermen badly affected by the exceptional winter weather.
Many creel fishermen have experienced hard financial times recently due to a combination of the extreme weather which can lead to a loss of fishing gear and a reduction in catch.
Now £400,000 has been made available by the Scottish Government which will contribute towards easing financial pressures faced by many in the industry.
The creel sector and the inshore fishing industry generally is very important to many of Scotland’s most fragile coastal communities in helping to sustain employment and maintaining and enhancing an important part of our national heritage.
This announcement follows a fund that was established last summer for whitefish and prawn fishermen. The Scottish Government says it wants to support the inshore fishing industry and their communities and help those experiencing genuine hardship.
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The inshore fishing industry is very important to Scotland’s economy and the value of the catch in 2012 was £87 million.
“However, the real value is often in the wider socio-
“This section of our fishing industry is facing exceptionally tough times and the Scottish Government wants to support them and their communities as they seek to overcome these challenges.
“My officials and I will continue to work with the industry to discuss what further steps can be taken to help and to develop new and existing markets for creel caught produce.”
Alistair Sinclair of the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation said: “The creation of this fund will assist beleaguered fishermen who have suffered severe losses over the past two winters. Many of these guys are the lifeblood of small rural communities and this display of support from the Scottish Government must be recognised as acknowledgement of their importance around the Scottish coastline.”
