The Scottish Government has awarded funding grants to 141 creel fishermen across the country as part of a £400,000 support package to help develop new markets.

The funding will support fishermen whose creels were damaged by the extreme winter weather. Photo: Albert Bridge

The funding will support fishermen whose creels were damaged by the extreme winter weather. Photo: Albert Bridge

The Scottish Creel Support Fund was set up in February to help creel fishermen who said they were struggling financially due to a combination of the recent extreme weather, which can lead to a loss of fishing gear, and a reduction in catch.

“We welcome support offered to the creel sector, with a fair geographical balanced distribution of funds throughout Scotland, to assist those that experienced exceptional circumstances and reduced profits in 2013,” said Duncan MacInnes, Western Isles Fishermen’s Association.

Funding has been awarded to 141 vessels from across Scotland: £48,000 to those in the North East, £42,000 to those in the North West, £38,000 in the South East, £58,000 in the South West, $40,000 to the Orkney and Shetland Islands and £56,000 to the Outer Hebrides.

An additional £100,000 will go towards developing new and existing markets for Scottish creel-caught produce, in partnership with Seafood Scotland, which will consider a range of measures to maximise the value of creel-caught shellfish product in key markets within the UK, Europe and elsewhere.

“Funding to Seafood Scotland towards market development activities at a national and global level will assist the whole static gear sector at a time of low prices for lobster and some other shellfish species,” added Mr MacInnes.

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