£8.4m of EMFF funding announced for 86 projects in Scotland

Sea fisheries, aquaculture and processing businesses will receive a share of £8.4m funding to boost growth and protect jobs in their area.

Above: The pier at Pierowall on Westray, Orkney is to be refurbished with the help of a £1.7m EMFF grant.

The latest round of the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will deliver 86 projects which will help businesses to upgrade or modernise their equipment across Scotland.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing announced details of the funding as he embarked on a series of visits to meet local businesses as part of his summer tour.

Around £1.7m EMFF grant has been awarded for the refurbishment of the Pierowall Pier in Westray, Orkney. This will support the work of 11 inshore vessels that supply the main shellfish processors on Westray and provide jobs for the community.

Lerwick Port Authority will receive £1,574,043 towards the £6.3m cost of a new fishmarket at Lerwick.

Other recipients of the funding include MJ French Fish Export Ltd in Fraserburgh, which will receive £362,000 grant to upgrade its processing facility, while a number of smaller grants will be used for fishermen to upgrade their safety equipment.

Fergus Ewing said: “Our rural economy plays a crucial role in supporting communities across the country, which is why investment through the EMFF is so important.

“This support will help processing businesses to expand and enhance their work, and make the day to day routines of fishermen easier and safer, by improving the quality of their products and enabling them to develop more environmentally-friendly methods.

“I will continue to put pressure on the UK government to engage Scotland on its thinking regarding future funding arrangements, in order that we can shape a set of arrangements which respond to Scotland’s needs and reflect the devolved nature of marine policy.”

The full list of projects to receive funding across Scotland can be viewed here.

Read more from Foshing News here.