£1.1m funding boost for fishing communities
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A BID to attract European fisheries funding to Aberdeenshire has been successful in gaining nearly £1.1 million for the area.
The Scottish Government has allocated the money from the European Fisheries Fund Axis 4.
The money will be matched by an equal sum from the public sector, meaning there will be a total of around £2.2 million available for local initiatives.
The purpose of the European fund is to promote sustainable development of fisheries areas by supporting measures to build skills and knowledge and generally increase the capacity of fishing communities and business networks through innovation, collaboration and diversification.
The programme is managed by Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), which represent the fisheries area in which they are based, and who are responsible for devising and implementing an Axis 4 development strategy.
The local programme will be managed by the Aberdeenshire Fisheries Local Action Group. The fisheries industry, the public and third sectors are all represented on the Aberdeenshire FLAG, whose members will assess and approve applications.
Chairwoman of the Aberdeenshire FLAG and head of economic development at Aberdeenshire Council, Belinda Miller, said: "The Minister’s announcement of EFF Axis 4 funding for Aberdeenshire is excellent news.
"I believe it will be tremendously beneficial in so many ways for coastal Aberdeenshire.
"Work to recruit an coordinator and provide application forms and guidance is already well underway and we aim to launch the programme at the end of March."
Axis 4 aims to promote economic diversification and increase the capacity of fisheries communities across the EU through support for ‘bottom up’ projects to build knowledge and skills and in turn facilitate innovation and cooperation in fisheries areas, but without increasing catching effort.
To enable drawdown of EU funds, the Aberdeenshire programme will require to secure match-funding from public sector sources such as Aberdeenshire Council, the Coastal Communities Fund (Crown Estate), Seafood Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, the National Lottery and Landfill Tax.
The programme budget requires to be committed by the end of 2013, although the cash drawdown period extends to the end of 2015.
In particular, Axis 4 will support projects which promote: the strengthening and competitiveness of fisheries areas; restructuring and redirecting economic activities; business diversification and value-adding activities; supporting small fisheries and tourism-related infrastructure and services; for the benefit of small fisheries communities; protecting the environment in fisheries areas; re-establishing the production potential following natural and industrial disasters; inter-regional and trans-national co-operation.
Aberdeenshire councillor Jill Webster said: "Our coastal communities are full of resourceful and well organised folk who know a good opportunity when they see one and I am confident there will be no shortage of applications for the FLAG to consider."
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said: "Given the importance of the fishing industry to the area, this is a hugely significant development.
"Even relatively modest sums can help make real improvements to the quality of life in fishing communities."
