THE Scottish Government yesterday announced plans for a £29 million funding lifeline over the next three years to help the country's fishing fleet survive the fuel price crisis.
The European Union's fisheries fund and Holyrood cash will be used to fund a range of fuel efficiency measures and marketing initiatives to help boost quayside prices as vessels struggle to cope with the massive hike in marine fuel.
Yesterday, aft
er a meeting in Aberdeen between Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Fisheries Secretary, and the industry fuel task force, fishing leaders welcomed the money but warned it was unlikely to prevent some boats going out of business.
Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said: "There is an inevitability that jobs will go – even with this plan. We would like it to have been more. But we now have a commitment and can get on with the plan. There will never be a case in history where we are entirely happy with what has been offered."
The funding – £7 million from the Scottish Government and £19 million from the EU – will probably go on measures ranging from the fitting of fuel flow meters to help with the purchase of new fuel-efficient engines.
Seafood Scotland and the Seafish Industry Authority are supporting the initiative and money will also be spent in improving Scottish seafood's brand, reputation and value.
Mr Lochhead said: "The Scottish Government is determined to help the fishing industry adapt to high fuel costs and although we can't control the price of fuel, we will do what we can to help in other ways.
"The fishing industry has been particularly hard hit with the crippling increase in fuel prices. Fuel costs count for as much as half the earnings of boats and cannot be passed on."
He said the cash would start to be available in the coming weeks and added: "Despite limited resources, we are willing to do all we can to make these go as far as possible to help our fishermen and the industries and communities they support.
"I am well aware there are some vessels struggling out there. But there are no easy fixes or off-the-shelf solutions to the crippling effect that rising fuel costs will have."
The full article contains 381 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
