NESFLAG INVESTS IN NE SCOTLAND FISHERIES PROJECTS

NESFLAG invests in NE Scotland fisheries projects. The North East Scotland Fisheries Local Action Group (NESFLAG) has awarded grants worth a total of £516,472 to eleven new projects in Aberdeenshire and Angus.

The group approved the applications in the latest rounds of the programme, which supports economic activity and community development in the fishing communities of the North East.

NESFLAG manages the small scale “community-led local development” element of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), financed by the European Union and the Scottish Government.

The programme is co-ordinated by Aberdeenshire Council and comprises a partnership of around 20 organisations from the private, public and community sectors. It has a strong representation from fisheries organisations.

The programme, which launched in March 2016, has a total budget of £1.43million of which more than £1million has now been awarded to 25 projects.

The successful projects in this round include:

• Redevelopment of part of Arbroath’s Signal Tower Museum and creation of new fishing heritage displays
• A new berthing pontoon for the use of fishing, leisure and tourism vessels at Arbroath Harbour
• Purchase of a rigid inflatable boat, berthing pontoon and equipment for a new-start tourism business in Stonehaven
• A major new slipway at Banff Harbour
• Conversion of the former fish market in Whitehills to create new landing facilities for local inshore fishermen
• Purchase of innovative new buoys which will reduce fishing gear conflict in Fraserburgh
• Pre-development phase of a major project to refurbish and extend the Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum
• A waste management and environmental project at Fraserburgh Harbour
• Construction of new bespoke towers for improved access to boats on the shiplift at Fraserburgh Harbour
• A major seafood festival for Peterhead to be held in September 2019
• New fish landing facilities including an ice machine and chill room at Rosehearty Harbour

Jamie Wilkinson, NESFLAG Co-ordinator, said “These projects represent some great examples of how NESFLAG can deliver community-led local development.
“In this round we have supported a number of applications along the coast which will deliver significant benefits to small scale fishermen. We have also offered grants to projects which improve coastal tourist attractions and celebrate the maritime heritage of the region.
“Particularly exciting is the expansion of the Peterhead Seafood Festival following a successful small-scale pilot event in 2018.
“Funding these projects means that we are maximising the current opportunities available to us under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.”

NESFLAG now has a very limited budget remaining in North Aberdeenshire and is fully committed in Angus.  The programme continues to be open for funding applications from South Aberdeenshire and welcomes enquiries from groups, associations and businesses across fishing communities including Stonehaven, Johnshaven and Gourdon.