Scottish Government has outlined £14 million worth of investments to support jobs and reduce emissions in marine sectors. A total of 60 projects focusing on innovation and sustainable development will receive grants ranging from £1,500 to £1.7 million from Marine Fund Scotland.
Recipients of funding this year include projects to:
- Support more young people to enter the sector
- Promote Scottish seafood in the UK and abroad
- Install solar panels and upgrade insulation to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions
- Provide equipment, training and skips to support beach cleans
- Develop shellfish storage tanks to be placed at sea to supply lobsters more sustainably
Speaking about the awards at the recent Scottish Seaweed Industry Association Conference, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Scotland’s marine economy is crucial to the economic, social and cultural fabric of our rural, coastal and island communities.
“Since 2021 the Marine Fund Scotland has awarded more than £70 million in grants to 390 projects, facilitating a total of £150 million of investment and supporting jobs and communities right around our coastline and throughout our islands.”
Scottish Seaweed Industry Association CEO Rhianna Rees said: “It’s brilliant to see Scottish seaweed businesses recognised in this round of Marine Fund Scotland awards. It shows how far the sector has come, and how much work has gone into the development of the seaweed industry. We are proud to stand alongside such a driven, innovative community working to make seaweed a cornerstone of Scotland’s blue economy.”
The association has also received support from Marine Fund Scotland for its own project to develop clearer, evidence-based food safety standards for Scottish seaweed.
“As demand grows across the UK and internationally, it’s essential that producers have practical, trusted, shared guidance from a reliable source. This project aims to provide resources to help give businesses and buyers the confidence to scale effectively,” Rees said.
Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) CEO Elspeth Macdonald noted that Marine Fund Scotland has supported the continuation of the federation’s work on data collection that started over a decade ago.
The Independent Fisheries Science Support Scheme (IFSSS) is the latest iteration of these observer schemes, previously funded through EFF and EMFF, she said.
“These projects have been providing essential and invaluable assistance to the Scottish Government in collecting data vital to the delivery of international advice for fishing opportunities.”
