Grant boost for north-east marine and fishing businesses
Fishing businesses and marine organisations in Scotland’s coastal communities will benefit from Marine Fund Scotland’s latest round of funding.
A total of 60 projects which contribute to innovative and sustainable practices, minimise carbon emissions and support coastal communities, will receive grants ranging from £7,000 to £1.2 million.
Projects include Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage Company Ltd for Installation of solar panels on eight buildings in order to allow the business to minimising its carbon footprint and, in the long term achieve net zero who received £369,975.88 towards the £1.8million project.
Thistle Seafood Limited (Peterhead) £855,000 for purchase of equipment allowing Thistle to start processing at a previous fish processing factory, this will save 40 jobs and create 60 more.
It will allow investment in water treatment, and the cold storage enables more efficient distribution which reduces the road miles of products.
Thistle Seafood Limited also receive £33,000 towards purchasing machinery that will increase efficiency and reduce pastry wastage during the production of en croute products.
Fraserburgh Freezing and Cold Storage Limited receive £80,332 for a project that aims to increase freezing and cold storage to meet demand and also reduce freezing time and improve product quality.
The new more efficient equipment and solar panels will reduce the company's carbon footprint.
Seafood Ecosse Limited (Peterhead) receive £534,036 towards a new purpose-built staff facility building which will improving the facilities for staff and making Seafood Ecosse a more attractive employer.
Longer term the new building enables the company to free up space in the existing factory to increase production.
Peterhead Port get £716,485.40 towards the construction of a new quality flake ice plant.
The new ice plant will use 20 per cent less energy than the old one and will be powered partly by solar panels.
Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners receive £63,025 towards the purchase of an electric trash-skimmer vessel which aims to improve the marine environment in the harbour by keeping it free of marine litter in an efficient, cost effective and low carbon way.
This will improve the harbour environment for users, visitors and wildlife.
A full list of recipients can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-fund-scotland-2022-to-2023-fund-recipients/
Announcing the recipients of the fund Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “I am very pleased for those organisations and individuals whose applications have been successful this year.
“Marine Fund Scotland has enabled some really exciting projects in the past and I’m confident that this round of funding will play an important role in continuing to help our marine and fisheries businesses to develop and move to the next level.
“These projects reflect Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision, the first phase of which culminated with the publishing of the report on ‘Delivering Scotland’s Blue Economy Approach’ earlier today.
“The Marine Fund Scotland will continue to be key in supporting sustainable development of Scotland’s Blue Economy – investing in Scotland’s seafood sectors, creating sustainable jobs, and helping to protect Scotland's marine environment.”
