EU grants boost for Scotland

THE latest round of grants from the European Maritime Fisheries Funding (EMFF) scheme will provide £4.8 million for aquaculture and fisheries, to be shared across 29 projects in the country.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said the money will provide a ‘vital financial leg-up’ and help to ‘support the whole fisheries supply chain’.

‘This seventh round of EMFF grants will provide a vital financial leg-up to projects from the Shetland Islands to Dumfries and Gallo- way – with the nearly £5 million invested helping to support the whole fisheries supply chain to reach new markets, and improving the overall quality of Scottish produce,’ said Ewing.

‘The new funding will also help to support the growth potential of Scotland’s shellfish sector, reinforce the importance of training, health and welfare within salmon aquaculture, and a ground-breaking initiative to assess the health of our iconic wild salmon stocks.

‘We are now in a period of great uncertainty for our coastal communities, so I’m sure they will welcome this real and practical support from the Scottish government and European Union.

‘At the moment we still don’t know what, if anything, will replace the EMFF after Brexit. The UK government must provide clarity on that for our fishermen as soon as possible.’

The projects include Shetland Mussels, which will receive almost £960,000 for its ‘Seed Feed’ initiative, aimed at producing an additional 1,000 tonnes of seed by 2021.

Trout farmer Dawnfresh Seafood was given £91,351 towards the purchase and installation of fish treatment, pumping, grading and stunning systems.