This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding supports new fisheries jobs
02/03/2007
More than 300 new jobs will be created as a result of £2.3 million funding to improve and modernise fisheries and aquaculture businesses around Scotland.
A total of 124 projects will benefit from grants under the final funding round of the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) programme, which will also help safeguard 1,842 existing jobs in the sector.
The funding will make the sector more sustainable and profitable, by improving port infrastructure, processing plants, the quality of fishing vessels and product quality.
Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said:
"I'm pleased that we have been able to support the commitment, initiative and vital business acumen of our fisheries industry. The FIFG programme has provided critical assistance to an industry which has had to evolve and develop at a pace in order to remain world class.
"These are innovative projects. There is assistance for a study of the development of Scottish fisheries for squid and nephrops, and a programme aimed at improving the long-term prosperity of the Clyde fisheries.
"The FIFG programme will make the industry more competitive in international markets, and our commitment to the future of our fishing industry will remain as we move to a new European Fisheries Fund."
This money is complemented by an additional £2.4 million from the Executive. It is anticipated that this round of grants will also trigger more than £13.6 million in private investment across the sector.
This is the 12th round of awards under the European Union's FIFG programme which was introduced in 2000.
Over a six year period of the programme, £55 million has been made available in Scotland (£17 million in the Highlands & Islands and £38 million for the rest of Scotland)
Following this announcement, all support schemes under the FIFG programme are now closed to new applications.
FIFG will be replaced by the new European Fisheries Fund (EFF) later in 2007. A formal consultation on the EFF Operational Plan is expected this summer.