Marine / Swinney announces funding for fishing and aquaculture
Shetland based companies in line to receive more £3.2m in grant funding
FIRST MINISTER John Swinney has announced £14 million of government funding for 67 fisheries projects across Scotland while touring Lerwick fish market on Monday morning.
Among the projects successful in the latest round of the Marine Fund Scotland are seven businesses from Shetland.
These include support for an individual from Scalloway secure a vessel to enter the industry, along with grants for Blueshell Mussels in Brae to enhance its mussel-growing process and to Cooke Aquaculture to trial an innovative water-borne feeding system.
The seven successful funding bids are:
- Blueshell Mussels – £1,282,829.30 – to enhance the mussel growing process;
- Cooke Aquaculture, – £1,247,094.00 – to install a new water borne feeding system;
- KIMO – £299,183.42 – for the Fishing for Litter Scotland initiative;
- A Jarmson (Shetland) Ltd – £288,354.09 – for new pallet making equipment;
- UHI Shetland – £64,340.72 – for a project entitled: Empowering communities for marine environment restoration;
- Private individual – £40,000 – for a new fishing business in the under 10m class;
- Private individual – £2,900 – for in investment to improve catch quality.
The first minister is in Shetland on Monday on a number of engagements including attending the Convention of the Highlands and Islands.
Swinney is also scheduled to visit Scottish Sea Farms salmon processing facilities before meeting management of Lerwick Port Authority later in the day.
“Our island and coastal communities and the marine industries based here make a huge contribution to Scotland – not just to our economy but also to our efforts to drive innovation and sustainability,” he said.
“I’m very pleased therefore to be here in Shetland to confirm these awards to a wide range of projects, all of which have demonstrated that they will help to drive innovation in the marine sector and help sustain coastal communities.”
One of the companies benefitting from the latest round of funding is Cooke Aquaculture.
Its regional manager David Brown said: “We are grateful for the grant assistance which will enable us to trial and develop a new waterborne feed delivery method where rural communities such as Shetland can continue feeding the world with premium Scottish salmon.
“The health and welfare of our fish is a top priority, and the project aims to enhance their wellbeing by encouraging the salmon to feed lower down in the pens, minimising the impact from environmental challenges and wildlife, as well as reducing our energy consumption and ensuring the durability of our feed pipes.”
More to follow throughout the day …
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