European and Maritime Fisheries Fund applications encouraged

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead has encouraged more applications to the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

Eight Scottish Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) from Shetland to Dumfries & Galloway have won a share of the EMFF worth £6.5 million.

The EMFF is the fund for the EU's maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. The fund:

• helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing
• supports coastal communities in diversifying their economies
• finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts
• makes it easier for applicants to access financing

Mr Lochhead said:

"The fishing and aquaculture industries make a vital contribution, providing jobs and sustaining services, in many coastal communities around Scotland. The EMFF provides funding to support fishermen, sustainable aquaculture, the processing sector and the communities that depend on them.

"We have already seen applications being made and I’d encourage other eligible groups to think about whether they could benefit from this funding.

"For the first time in the UK, I have approved an allocation for eight Fisheries Local Action Groups which will benefit communities through funding job creation, diversification opportunities, opportunities for training and promotion of environmental measures.

"I am confident the local groups will make a real difference in the coastal communities they serve – from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway."

The Fisheries Local Action Groups receiving funding are:

• Eilean Siar - £0.528 
• Shetland Islands – £0.485
• Orkney Islands - £0.482
• Highland & Moray - £1.006m 
• North East - £1.437m 
• Forth - £1.052m
• Argyll & Ayrshire – £0.985m 
• Dumfries and Galloway - £0.580m

For more information about the EMFF visit the European Commission website. You can also find lots of information about Community-Led Local Development through the EMFF on the FARNET website, including presentations and a report from the first FARNET transnational seminar which took place in December 2015 in Edinburgh.