UK Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund allocation
The Scottish fishing industry has condemned the UK Government’s “grossly unfair” allocation of funding from its £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, which was created to attempt to placate fishermen after ministers gave away 12 years of access to our waters to EU vessels. The access will allow them to take fish worth £6 billion from UK waters.
Without any prior notification to the industry north of the border, Defra announced on Monday that Scotland would receive £28 million in total over that period and Wales and Northern Ireland would share £28 million between them, meaning £304 million would be allocated to England.
Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said: “This is a grossly unfair division when Scotland comprises by far the largest part of the UK fishing industry, routinely accounting for around 60% of landings by both tonnage and value.
“When the fund was announced in May as a consolation prize for the government giving away access to UK waters until 2038 for as yet nothing in return, Defra said it would invest in new technology and equipment to modernise the fleet and work with industry to target investment where it matters most.
“Five months on, Defra having held only one meeting with industry, we’re told that the fund will be allocated according to the Barnet formula, due to an opaque change in policy within Treasury. Previously, Scotland’s share of fisheries funds was set at 47%. That has now been reduced to less than 8% at the stroke of a pen and with no discussion.
“This has gone from being a consolation prize to now being a booby prize.
“It’s hard to feel that this government cares one jot about the Scottish fishing industry. Sold out by the PM through the EU re-set, told that we would have this fund to help support the industry for the future, only now to find that Scotland’s share is close to derisory. This is another bitter blow to for Scotland’s fishermen.
“We are disappointed that the Scotland Office did not stand up for the Scottish fishing industry over this decision.”
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