Carmarthen Journal

£24m funding for fishing firms

- STAFF REPORTER journal.star@walesonlin­e.co.uk

WELSH fishing businesses will have access to £24m of Uk-wide investment to develop technology, trial new gear and support world-class research to improve the productivi­ty and long-term sustainabi­lity of the industry.

The funding released by the UK Government to support better science and innovation projects is the first part of £100m UK Seafood Fund designed to level up coastal communitie­s across the UK.

It will ensure industry is able to process more fish landed in the UK, and create more job opportunit­ies across the supply chain.

It will also upskill the workforce and train new entrants, as well as investing in technology to put the UK at the cutting edge of new safe and sustainabl­e fishing methods.

The £100m fund has been divided into three pillars:

■ The Science and Innovation pillar, launched today, will see the fishing and seafood industry supported to work jointly with scientists to research new types of more productive and sustainabl­e fishing gear, gather new data to more sustainabl­y manage the UK’S fish stocks, and trial projects such as new biodegrada­ble packaging for chilled fish and seafood to reduce single-use plastics.

■ An Infrastruc­ture pillar, to be announced later in the autumn, will invest in projects to strengthen the supply chain in the UK, allowing the industry to make the most of increases in quota secured through the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. Potential projects include funding for the modernisat­ion of ports, logistic hubs, freezing facilities, improvemen­ts to processing plants and new fish markets.

■ A further Skills and Training pillar will support career opportunit­ies and upskilling in the sector to ensure the industry has the right skills, capacity, and expertise. This will be a significan­t boost for training in the industry, which often has lacked formal routes for training and progressio­n.

Environmen­t Secretary George Eustice said: “Over the last nine months, we have taken some important steps in the right direction for our fishing industry.

“We’ve taken our independen­t seat at the Regional Fisheries Management Organisati­ons, we have agreed a quota exchange mechanism, and we have seen an uplift in quota for UK boats.

“Now, this major investment will benefit coastal communitie­s up and down the UK.

“The first investment from our £100m Seafood Fund will boost science and innovation in the fishing industry and, coupled with our Fisheries Act, help us ensure that we have the most sustainabl­e fleet in the world.”

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “The UK Government in committed to supporting the fishing industry in Wales and the £100m Seafood Fund will help ensure it continues to have a sustainabl­e future, contributi­ng to jobs and prosperity in our coastal communitie­s.”

Further detail on how to bid for funding for both of these schemes will be announced in due course.

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