Lewes District Council allocated just over GBP 1 million to the project from a GBP 12.68 million UK government grant to improve infrastructure for the town’s commercial fishing industry.
A community interest company was set up to oversee the scheme. Lewes District Council purchased an industrial unit to house the processing plant, along with equipment such as a chiller, freezer, forklift truck, pallet truck, an ice making machine and storage containers.
With legal documents now in place, Newhaven Fishing CIC board members are reviewing a draft lease and grant funding agreement that will allow them to buy CCTV equipment and technological hardware for the building.
Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Leader of Lewes District Council, is one of the board members. She said: “I am delighted that very soon the plant will be in operation, making a real difference to the fishing community, who will be able to land their catch nearby, process the fish and use the freezers for storage.
“This is really important in retaining the value of the catch in Newhaven, opening up opportunities to wider markets in the future.”
The CIC, which has a focus on sustainable fish products and sustainable fishing techniques, is working with the Newhaven fishing community and is currently looking into branding fish fingers that could be used for school lunches. It is also working with Lewes Food Partnership.
