Eleven English fisheries projects have been approved to receive funding from the latest European Fisheries Fund (EFF) panel.
Over £2 million has been awarded to projects which will help to improve the local fishing communities they serve by targeting growth and employment.
Five projects were awarded around £1.2 million for port and harbour regenerations. These include just over £400,000 for chill capacity and ice plants for Sutton Harbour in Plymouth and just over £200,000 for Padstow Harbour in Cornwall.
A new ice plant facility will be installed on the quay edge of Sutton Harbour. This installation will house two separate machines capable of producing a total of 20 tonnes over a 24hr period. The ice will be held in two separate storages, ensuring continuity of production during routine maintenance or unforeseen breakdowns and enable either one or both plants to operate.
A second phase of the work will involve creating space at the market to facilitate the addition of a new chiller. The existing loading bay will be extended and the box wash facility relocated to allow this which will provide security for the storage area.
At Padstow Harbour a larger, more efficient and reliable ice plant will be installed, which will remove health and safety concerns. The ice plant will also improve fish quality and will reduce 'carbon footprint' of ice operations in Padstow by reducing the power used to generate ice.
A project involving the installation of a weighing and grading machine as part of the second phase of the regeneration of Grimsby fish dock also received a grant.
Just under £600,000 has been granted to two projects in the seafood processing sector.
One of these projects saw The Severn and Wye Smokery awarded a grant for a new fish filleting line. This will eliminate the need to send fish off site to be filleted. The project will improve the quality and value of their products and create jobs.
Training opportunities have also been supported. Seafish has been awarded grants for four projects to deliver training to new entrants to the fishing industry as well as training in navigation, engineering, stability and radio operation for experienced fishermen.
