- £56 million of new money will support Scottish, Welsh and
Northern Irish fishing industries and boost local economies
- Investment in new technology and equipment, revitalise the
UK's fishing fleet, and training the next generation of fishers
will drive growth across the industry
- Regional delivery will target investment to where it matters
most across the UK, boosting the sector and local communities for
the future
Fishing businesses and coastal communities across the UK will
benefit from £360 million of investment through a new Fishing and
Coastal Growth fund, with £56 million of the new money going to
support Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish fishing
industries.
Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will
be responsible for spending the money to best meet the specific
needs of their fishing and coastal communities.
This will allow the funding to be targeted to where it matters
most, with devolved governments able to work in collaboration
with their local fishing industries to prioritise regional needs
and best support their coastal towns and villages.
The fund will invest in
the UK's fishing fleet's technology and equipment, train the next
generation of fishers by enhancing their skills, and support
coastal communities by boosting tourism and
trade.
Targeting the funding will create more secure, sustainable, and
economically successful fishing and aquaculture sectors across
the UK, in turn supporting local communities.
The Scottish Government (£28m), Welsh Government (£18m) and
Northern Ireland Executive (£10m) have been allocated a share of
funding based on the Barnett Formula.
Fisheries Minister Dame said:
The grit and determination of fishers throughout the UK brings
the best seafood to our dining tables and across the
world.
This fund will revitalise the fishing sector and coastal
communities right across the UK, spurring growth as part of our
Plan for Change.
Supporting devolved governments with this new funding will help
get the money to where it's most needed, so the sector can thrive
for generations to come.
UK Government Scotland Office Minister said:
Scotland's fisheries sector and our coastal communities are
hugely important and this new £28 million UK Government
investment will help deliver a bright, sustainable future for the
fishing industry and those who live on our coast by improving
infrastructure, creating jobs and boosting investment in skills.
The UK Government is also slashing red tape for
our seafood exporters and businesses as we work with partners to
deliver a decade of renewal for the country through our Plan
for Change.
National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations Chief
Executive Mike Cohen said:
There has been commercial fishing in the UK for more than a
thousand years. Today, it remains integral to many coastal
communities and continues to produce some of the best seafood in
the world. We can be enormously proud of our heritage, and
prouder still that fishing remains full of potential.
Well managed, and with the right support, fishing can be an
engine to drive sustainable growth all around our coastline. This
funding is enormously welcome and, if properly targeted, will
bring social and economic benefits that will be felt for a long
time to come.
The UK government will work in close partnership with the
devolved governments to ensure the funding supports both local
needs and UK-wide ambitions for a thriving, sustainable fishing
industry.
Alongside the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, the UK government
expects to start negotiations for a new Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU this
autumn.
The deal will slash red tape for UK seafood exporters and make it
easier to sell UK fish to our largest trading partner, driving
growth and removing barriers to trade.
