Scottish Government slams ‘unacceptable’ UK funding allocation for fishing industry

Under the £360 million UK-wide scheme, Scotland is set to receive £28 million, amounting to just 7.78% of the total budget, despite accounting for nearly half of the UK’s fishing industry by volume and value.

Gougeon said the decision “demonstrates that [the UK Government] do not understand or indeed care about our fishing industry,” arguing that the allocation “falls disastrously short” of the £166 million (46%) share Scotland had sought – mirroring its previous proportion of EU fisheries funding prior to Brexit.

“This disproportionate allocation of funding comes at a time when the Scottish fishing industry is dealing with multiple pressures, from the agreement to extend EU access to Scottish waters, to the ongoing discussions on cod and mackerel quotas for 2026,” Gougeon said.

She added that the decision “will remove the previously agreed approach for fisheries funding linked to fishing effort” and could create a competitive advantage for the English sector, which will receive more than £300 million under the current plan.

Calling for an immediate rethink, Gougeon confirmed she is writing to the UK Government demanding that the allocation be reconsidered.

“This decision must be reversed because it is unjustifiable and unacceptable,” she said.

The new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is designed to replace post-Brexit EU funding mechanisms such as the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). It aims to support investment in sustainable fishing, processing, and coastal community development across the UK. However, the distribution formula has sparked controversy in devolved nations, with critics claiming it fails to reflect regional industry size and economic reliance on fisheries.