£230,000 for Esk Rivers Project
First Minister John Swinney has confirmed that 67 projects will share a total of £14 million in support from the latest round of Marine Fund Scotland.
Sectors receiving support include sea fisheries; aquaculture; seafood processing; wild fisheries including wild salmon; projects that tackle marine litter and improve recycling; and the wider marine environment.
This year has seen £230,000 of funding for sonar cameras for the Esk Rivers in Angus, to support the work of the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board. The Board is a statutory organisation tasked with protecting and improving the salmon and sea trout fisheries of the River South Esk, River North Esk, River Bervie and River Lunan.
Other projects supported include several on Shetland, where the First Minister announced the funding awards, with support for a new fisher from Scalloway as well as grants to enhance mussel-growing and to trial an innovative water-borne feeding system.
Applicants are assessed against strict eligibility criteria including alignment with Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision.
I am pleased to see significant funding for this important project here in Angus.
GRAEME
The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to supporting our fisheries sector and ensuring it thrives sustainably into the future.
The Esk District Salmon Fishery Board and Esk Rivers & Fisheries Trust work together to protect and improve the wild salmon and sea trout populations – a worthy recipient of this support for sure.
I hope it will go some way to aiding these efforts.
Our island and coastal communities and the marine industries based here make a huge contribution to Scotland – not just to our economy but also to our efforts to drive innovation and sustainability.
FIRST MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY
I’m very pleased therefore to be here in Shetland to confirm these awards to a wide range of projects, all of which have demonstrated that they will help to drive innovation in the marine sector and help sustain coastal communities.
Over the last four years, Marine Fund Scotland has supported hundreds of pioneering projects that are already contributing to building prosperity whilst at the same time protecting the planet.
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