Funding to boost the UK fishing industry through projects to
upgrade infrastructure and revive local docks has been announced
today, as the latest round of investment opens for bids from the
UK-wide £100 million Seafood Fund to modernise the sector.
Winning projects set to
receive a share of £20 million include the expansion of
processing facilities for popular British fish like Scottish
salmon and Cornish sardines, alongside money to bring an ageing
dry dock back to life.
The UK Seafood Fund is
a landmark government investment supporting the long-term future
and sustainability of the UK fishing and seafood industry, with
the infrastructure strand of the Fund helping to pay for upgrades
to ports, processing and aquaculture facilities so they can meet
future demand whilst also boosting jobs and economic growth.
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.
Fisheries Minister said:
Fishing communities are an important part of the UK’s
heritage and they make a valuable contribution to our economy, so
we are backing them with funds to boost growth and
opportunities across the industry.
This funding will ensure seafood businesses throughout the supply
chain are well-equipped to keep pace with increasing demand at
home and abroad, boosting production and sustainability and
building a resilient sector for the future.
Successful bidders from the first round of infrastructure funding
will receive a share of £20 million from the government, matched
with nearly £50 million of investment from private sources. They
include:
- HSH Coldstores who are investing 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;
- 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;
- Shoreham Port who are transforming a historic dry dock into a
modern facility for local and visiting fleets.
Tom Willis, Chief Executive at Shoreham Port,
said:
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.
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 50m in length, with workshop access
and quayside space. Commencing shortly, the project will be
completed by early next summer”.
Allan Stephen, Director at Denholm Seafoods,
said:
We are delighted with the support we have received from DEFRA,
which from the outset has been highly productive. Securing
the DEFRA grant will enable Denholm Seafoods to invest in our new
freezing and production facilities which will maintain our high
quality product.
The UK has a thriving seafood sector with exports of salmon – one
of the UK’s most important exports – worth around £600m annually
and other abundant fish stocks such as Cornish sardines in demand
on the continent for their quality.
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.
Defra will also shortly announce successful applicants from
the Fisheries Industry Science
Partnerships (FISP) scheme, part of the UK Seafood Fund,
which funds data collection and research to support sustainable
fisheries management. The final FISP round will launch in
December 2022.
