The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
North-east ‘overlooked’
Scotland’s top region ‘not a priority’ for government fishing funds – MSP
There was anger last night as it emerged the vast majority of funding for the fishing industry bypasses the north-east.
Almost two thirds of support grant applications from the region’s trawlermen to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) were rejected last year.
According to new figures, 146 applications were made for the funding, but only 46 were approved by the Scottish Government.
However, the Scottish Government responded last night saying it had made
“I am concerned that the northeast is not a priority for this government”
a serious investment in fishing in the region.
A spokeswoman said: “The majority of available sea fisheries funding, since the European Maritime Fisheries Fund launched in 2016, has gone to the north east of Scotland.
“The fund is now almost fully committed, hence the reduction in awards, with hard decisions required on applications from all areas of Scotland.”
More than £1.9 million was handed out to fishing crews in the likes of Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
But that is only 13% of the total £14.1m of EMFF grants made available for 2017/18.
The EMFF can be used to improve the infrastructure of coastal communities and in May, Aberdeenshire Council secured a grant of £376,000 for a new ice plant in Macduff.
In 2016, £5 million was awarded to Peterhead Port Authority to help with the £50m project to deepen the harbour and create a new fish market, which was officially opened by Prince Charles last month.
Skippers and owners in the north-east and Moray have, however, fared less well in the past 12 months.
Of the 21 council areas where data was available, Fife, North Lanarkshire and Stirling all ranked top with 100% of grants approved, for a total spend of £2.6m.
Further down the list, Western Isles and Orkney had 52% and 51% of their applications granted.
Just three of the six applications made in Aberdeen were funded, with a total of £366,000 released.
But only 29 of the 75 Highland applications were approved.
Moray fared the worst of the north council areas, with just 30% approved.
Five local authority areas had no grants applications accepted, with 11 failed attempts between them.
The figures came to light in response to a parliamentary question from Peter Chapman MSP, who has accused the Scottish Government of ignoring the region.
Mr Chapman said: “While I understand that large sums have been granted to central belt or city-based research projects to help with sustainability and aquaculture, I am concerned about the rest of the allocation.
“North-east Scotland is the biggest base for fishing, with Peterhead landing the biggest tonnage in Scotland this year and Fraserburgh the third biggest.
“That means about 45% of fish caught in Scottish waters are landed in the north-east, yet only 31.5% of Aberdeenshire’s EMFF applications were granted over the period 2017-18, receiving just 13.7% of the total money spent.”
“I am concerned that the north-east is not a priority for this government.
“With £14 million available, I would have expected the north-east to receive more support.”
Macduff-based skipper John Clark had his grant application for nets aimed at reducing discards approved earlier this year.
But to make sure he received the £30,000, he had to get them made within two months.
Mr Clark said that was not enough time for a manufacturer to come up with the netting and revealed he ended up losing the cash.
He said: “It was virtually impossible to have these nets made within two months so we actually lost out on our grant.
“The problem lies with the Scottish Government.”
But the Scottish Government said: “The UK Government did not prioritise the EMFF in negotiations, and constrained EU assistance to Scotland to less than 2% of the available funding, despite Scotland having, 9% of the sea fisheries landings and the fourth largest EU sea area to manage.
“It is crucial the UKG answers our calls to set out clear, future plans for funding this vital sector.”