Scotland allocates £16m for fisheries and aquaculture projects

The Scottish Government has awarded more than £16 million through the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 to support 99 seafood and aquaculture projects. The funding is expected to create approximately 122 jobs in coastal and island communities.

Supported organizations include Seafood Scotland, Seafish, Salmon Scotland, and Marine Environmental Services. The grants will fund initiatives such as fish stock health data collection, safety training for crews, and trials for energy-efficient, environmentally friendly fishing nets. Marine and Islands Minister Jim Fairlie noted that the fund aims to increase aquaculture production and sales by £3.5 million.

Since 2021, the Marine Fund Scotland has awarded over £86 million to 499 projects, generating more than £185 million in investment. Minister Fairlie also expressed concerns regarding the distribution of UK Government funding, stating that Scotland has received only £28 million of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, despite accounting for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity.