More than £16m has been awarded from the Marine Fund Scotland for 2026–27 to 99 projects in the fishing and aquaculture sector. The money will fund, among other things, data collection on the health of fish stocks, safety training for fishing crews and trials of more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly nets.
The beneficiaries include four strategic projects run by industry bodies: Seafood Scotland, Seafish, Salmon Scotland and Marine Environmental Services. The awards were announced by marine and islands minister Jim Fairlie.
Editorial comment
Fishing, fish processing and salmon farming are among the largest employers of Poles in Scotland, from Peterhead and Fraserburgh to Shetland and the Highlands. Money for safety and modernisation is good news for workers: better working conditions and more stable employers. For small firms in the sector it is also a sign that the fund runs every year and that it is worth preparing an application for the next round.
What to do
- Industry workers: ask your employer whether it uses the fund for safety training, and say you’d like to take part.
- Owners of fishing boats and small processing plants: check the terms of the next Marine Fund Scotland round on the Scottish Government website and sign up for alerts.
- Prepare an investment plan in advance: equipment, energy efficiency, safety. Applications with specific costs stand a better chance.
Sources
Original editorial content by The Business Time, based on the sources listed. Illustrative photo.
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