Rural Affairs Secretary responds to Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund announcement. Commenting on the funding allocation for the Scottish fishing industry Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:
“The UK Government has chosen to ignore the needs of Scotland’s fishing industry and coastal communities with this totally unacceptable allocation of funds, yet again demonstrating that they do not understand or indeed care about our fishing industry.
“The Scottish fishing sector accounts for almost half of the UK industry and an allocation of just 7.78% of the budget (£28 million out of a total of £360 million) is a totally unacceptable share given the size and importance of the fishing industry to Scotland’s economy.
“It is disastrously short of the £166 million, or 46% share of funding, that we sought based on the share Scotland previously received from the EU funding allocated to the UK. This leaves the industry in England benefitting from more than £300 million of the total funding.
“This disproportionate allocation of funding comes at a time when the Scottish fishing industry is dealing with multiple pressures, from the agreement to extend EU access to Scottish waters, to the ongoing discussions on cod and mackerel quotas for 2026.
“This decision is an insult to Scotland and its vital fishing industry. It will remove the previously agreed approach for fisheries funding linked to fishing effort and we are concerned that it may lead to a competitive advantage for the English sector, with greater subsidy of the applicable costs.
“This decision must be reversed because it is unjustifiable and it is unacceptable. As a matter of urgency I am writing to the UK Government calling for this decision to be reconsidered.”