Fisheries

A new £7.75 million funding package will offer support to fishermen, seafood businesses and ports and harbours threatened by the ongoing effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU Exit.

The package includes:

Additional advisers will be appointed to help provide seafood businesses with support on new paperwork and processes following the end of the EU Exit Transition Period.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has called on the UK Government to bolster support for Scotland’s struggling seafood sector.

Following a series of meetings with seafood businesses and organisations this week, the Cabinet Secretary has asked for:

A new 12-point action plan will support Scotland’s ambition to be a world class fishing nation and ensure responsible and sustainable fisheries management.  

More than 200 jobs will be created through the development of a new deep water terminal in the Outer Hebrides.

Initial work will begin on the Stornoway Deep Water Terminal with Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing confirming £49 million investment from a number of partners to strengthen transport links and support a range of diverse industries in the Western Isles. 

Wholesale food and drink businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are to be supported through a new £5 million fund.

Wildlife watchers are being asked to help a University of St Andrews project gain knowledge about bottlenose dolphins by sending photographs taken of the mammals spotted off the coast.

The aquaculture sector contributed approximately £885 million to the wider Scottish economy and supported 11,700 jobs in 2018, according to new research.