Moray projects benefit from fisheries fund

Date Added - 05/07/12

Three Moray projects are to benefit from more than £20,000 from Scottish Government’s European Fisheries Fund (Axis 4) programme and Moray Council. 

Cluny Fish Ltd in Buckie will receive £13,750 match funding from their £27,500 project cost for the development of ambient seafood production which will give longer shelf life and utilise all waste trimmings. Additional benefits are that the project is likely to create 12 jobs by the end of 2013.

Elgin and Lossiemouth Harbour Company will make use of its £7,590 match-fund for a £15,380 project to create a fishermen’s rest and multi-purpose meeting room for retired and active fishermen and for organisations involved in fishing and natural heritage.

Burghead Headland Trust was granted £5000 after applying with a £10,000 project to extend its fishing and natural heritage display of the Moray Firth. This will allow them to teach school groups and also involve the local community in collating content.

The fund promotes sustainable development of fisheries areas by supporting measures to build skills and knowledge and generally increase the capacity of local fishing communities and business networks through innovation, collaboration and diversification.

The fund is managed by the Moray Fisheries Local Action Group which oversees the delivery of funding.

In particular, Axis 4 will support a broad range of projects which focus on:

•     Small fisheries and tourism related infrastructure and services such as development of tourism products, fishing and related environmental and cultural activities

•     Diversifying and value added activities which could include marketing, strategy and products

•     Restructuring and redirecting economic activities which could include developing the additional capacity to service the renewables sector, such as support and maintenance for offshore renewables or support for the food and drink sector.

Expressions of interest are now being invited for grants of £2,500 upwards. Projects should support small fisheries and tourism related infrastructure and services in the coastal area from Cullen to Burghead.

For further information please contact European Fisheries Fund co-ordinator Katalin Boda on 07971 999544, by e-mail at katalin.boda@moray.gov.uk, by visiting www.morayfisheriesfund.co.uk or on Twitter @morayfishfund