£182,000 for new Mallaig ice plant

A GRANT of more than £182,000 has been announced for the purchase and installation of a new ice plant at Mallaig Harbour as part of a government aid package to help support coastal communities.

More than £6.9 million in total – from the sixth round of European and Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) grants – will be invested in 107 projects across Scotland to also help fishing fleets land and sell their catch.

The £182,587 for the new ice plant at Mallaig Harbour, which has a total project cost of £365,175, will create a facility to protect the quality of catch landing in the west coast.

Robert Macmillan, chief executive of Mallaig Harbour Authority, said the provision of ice was a key component to allow the Mallaig fleet to operate, by ensuring that the quality of catches was maintained.

‘Assistance through the EMFF is crucial in supporting the costs for key harbour infrastructure and we are grateful for the £182,587 award,’ said Mr Macmillan. ‘Without this funding, the provision of this key component in the supply chain would be in doubt.’

Around 83 individual vessels will also receive funding to upgrade their monitoring or storage systems, or to put towards new fishing gear, while Seafood Scotland will be awarded £526,602 to help the sector break into new export markets.

Announcing the grants at the annual Skippers Expo in Aberdeen last week, Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘The range of projects this investment is benefiting shows exactly how reliant our coastal communities are on this European funding stream.

‘Where the UK Government has provided options, these are light on detail and full of potential pitfalls. They must quickly clarify these options and guarantee fishing communities will not lose out on the opportunities, which a clear funding decision offers them. Planning for the future must start now with the Scottish Government fully involved.’

And Patrick Hughes, chief executive Seafood Scotland, added: ‘Securing EMFF funding is vitally important to showcase Scotland’s acclaimed seafood products and our ambitious exporters. This funding will enable Seafood Scotland to support our seafood companies from across the seafood supply chain. This EU funding and ultimately the support it provides can make a real difference to companies looking to make important connections with global buyers.’