Peterhead harbour’s £50million redevelopment plans are to go ahead after £5million of European Union and Scottish Government funding.
The port’s ambition to deepen the inner harbours and create a bigger fish market was among 65 Scottish projects sharing an £11.4million pot announced by Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing yesterday.
Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) chief executive Ian Laidlaw said: “This now allows us to progress with the £50million redevelopment of the harbour and the extension and upgrading of the Greenhill fish market.
“Record landings in July and August prove that demand exists for increased capacity and improved facilities for the fishing fleet.
“This is our biggest single investment in modern times and ensures Peterhead will remain as Europe’s premier white-fish port.”
The government has chipped in £5.5million to top up a £5.9million allocation forming part of a first round of European and Maritime Fisheries Fund payouts.
Grants made under the funding programme range from PPA’s £5million to £960 to support a Shetland project focused on insulated containers.
The second biggest award, totalling nearly £624,000, was for a Seafish-run safety training scheme.
Mr Ewing said the payouts could lead to a total investment worth up to £48million in sea fisheries, aquaculture and processing industries.
He confirmed then during a visit to the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, which has previously received £580,000 of EU-backed funding to upgrade its facilities.
Highlighting the importance of European cash to support the sector, the minister said: “EU funding is a lifeline to many of our fragile coastal communities and helps to create and sustain jobs in the fishing sector.
“This funding package will provide crucial support for fishermen, sustainable aquaculture, the processing sector and the communities and jobs which depend on them.
“It will also benefit our renowned seafood by helping to promote Scottish produce on the world stage to premium markets.”
The UK Government has pledged to replace EU structural and investment funds such as the EMFF after Brexit, but some critics have argued uncertainty still remains.
“In the absence of clarity from the UK Government, I will do all that I can to provide certainty and reassurance to the industry and get on with the day-to-day business of government,” Mr Ewing said.