Fishing industry to benefit from Shoreham port investment

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Commercial fishermen who cast their nets off the UK''s Sussex coast are set to benefit from new and improved facilities, thanks to ongoing strategic investment at Shoreham Port. As a result, the number of fishing vessels using the port has increased markedly over the last two years and is forecast to increase again in 2009.

Changes at Shoreham Port have opened the inner harbour up for visiting boats from the UK, Belgium, Holland and Scotland while new moorings are providing an increased number of berths for smaller vessels.

The investment, both monetary and in management resources, has seen the number of visiting boats increase from a total of 117 in 2006 to 157 in the first half of 2008. This figure is expected to rise to over 300 for the full year, an increase of almost 200 per cent.

Smaller craft – less than 15m long – will benefit from 26 new berths, predicted to be filled in the next twelve months, bringing the Shoreham Port moored home fleet to over 30 boats.

Among the new additions to existing facilities are areas for fishermen to store their nets and pots while future plans are set to provide ice-making machines, freezers and an improved parking infrastructure, lighting and security.

The £60,000 invested by Shoreham over the last two years has been bolstered by grants of £30,000 from the Marine and Fisheries Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). From 2009 the port will be investing further funds and applying for additional grants as part of its continuing development programme.

Shoreham Port Harbour Master, Capt Colin Crookshank, said: “Until we have all the new facilities and infrastructure in place we will fill the new berths gradually, although interest has been high and we are confident of filling all 26 moorings.

“The increased fishing activity and subsequent higher catches benefit all concerned. The fish are sold to local markets as well as being transported inland and across to France and Spain.

“Investment in the commercial fishing industry is one of the many development programmes ongoing at Shoreham and further discussions will be taking place in the next few days to finalise plans for 2009.”