A group of VIPs visited Plymouth Fisheries’ new ice production facility last week to see the completed development and learn more about plans for the future.
The ice plant unveiled this spring at England’s second largest fresh fish market based in Plymouth’s Sutton Harbour is part of an ongoing £1.2m investment in the complex by owners Sutton Harbour Holdings plc, and has been part-funded by grants totalling more than £500,000 from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
A group of 22 people including officials from Defra’s EMFF Policy team, the EMFF UK Managing Authority, UK Co-ordinating Body and the MMO were joined by representatives from the Association of Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities, Cornwall Fisheries Local Action Group, Seafish, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, British Port Authority and British Trout Association for the visit, which was hosted by the Manager of Plymouth Fisheries, Pete Bromley.
The ongoing £1.2m investment in Plymouth Fisheries has enabled a new ice plant to be created at the fisheries complex to guarantee the provision of ice on site 24 hours a day, offering an essential service to the region’s fishermen. A further £30,000 is being invested in updating facilities at the fisheries complex, including a major upgrade of the external lighting systems.
Pete Bromley, Harbour Master and Manager of Plymouth Fisheries, said, “We were delighted to welcome senior officials from the MMO and Defra who secured the European Fisheries Fund grants which have helped to make this investment possible, and to show them around the completed chill chain project which includes the ice plant, a brand new chiller, and the complete refurbishment of existing chiller facilities. The addition of a second chiller has increased fish handling capacity by around 50%.”
