Over £4.7 million has been awarded to the English fishing industry from the European Fisheries Fund.
Fourteen projects were approved or conditionally approved at the third EFF selection panel that was held on 21 May. In addition, one project was given a time limited approval until February 2010 at which time they can make a new application to the panel.
£100,000 was awarded for a collaborative project between fishermen in the South West and Cefas which will work to reduce fish discards through trawl modifications in the otter trawl fisheries.
The North East received a boost with a £2 million award for the refurbishment of the North Shields Western Quay.
The fund can support a wide range of projects and a traditional cold smokery in the West Country has received a £300,000 grant towards its long term viability. This money will go towards freezer upgrades, Improved IT systems and a new processing line to bring processing back to the site from an external contractor.
The panel did not approve two projects that were submitted, one of which was a multi-million pound request for funding for a new fish market in Newlyn. The business case for this application remained weak, most notably because it centered on only one option for development – a complete new build. It did not examine any options for refurbishment of the existing buildings.
However, the MFA will continue to work with all interested parties to get an application which can be supported.
Ray Hedley, Chair of the England Selection Panel and Head of MFA’s Business Relations Team said: "There were many top quality applications and it is striking to have so many businesses willing to invest their own funds at this difficult economic time. That’s a vote of confidence for sustainable fisheries in England."
