The UK government has pledged £1.4 million for sustainable fishing and fisheries science.
The funding is the first part of a £100 million UK Seafood Fund to help coastal communities across the UK. Awarded through the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships Scheme to strengthen relations between industry and academia, £24 million has been earmarked for science and innovation projects.
Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis, said the funding was backing the wealth of talent in the fishing industry. “A sustainable fishing industry is essential if we are to ensure we have a healthy, thriving marine environment that is capable of supporting our world-class industry long into the future,” she said.
Eight projects will be in line for the funding, five of which, totalling £1.21 million, involve Scottish expertise.
Research includes exploring the use of artificial lights to change fish behaviour to find more sustainable ways of trawling for nephrops and squid; using autonomous sampling systems on fishing vessels to improve crab, lobster and whelk catch data as well as using creel-mounted cameras in fisheries in Orkney.
Another of the successful applicants will see kites and buoys used to deter seabirds from diving into the water near to an operational fishery and getting caught in the nets – something which is estimated to kill up to 400,000 seabirds worldwide each year.
This comes as the UK and devolved governments call for views on the Joint Fisheries Statement. Each of the eight FISP award winners have been chosen for their potential to meet one or multiple Fisheries Act objectives.
