A £2.5million funding boost to support growth and investment in Scottish aquaculture was announced by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing yesterday.
The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) cash includes a £1.7million grant to support projects at the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre at Stirling University.
Loch Fyne Oysters, Ross-shire firm Charron, Lanarkshire-based Dawnfresh Seafoods and Fassfern Mussels in Lochaber will also benefit from the funding, which is part of a second round of EMFF payouts supporting 56 projects across Scotland.
Mr Ewing, speaking at the Farmed Finfish Summit at Marine Harvest in Fort William, said: “Aquaculture is one of our real economic success stories and the industry is on track to grow to a value of well over £2billion annually to the Scottish economy by 2020, supporting 10,000 jobs.
“This is a great example of how essential EU funding is helping to encourage further innovation and supporting the sustainable growth of aquaculture, in turn benefiting rural communities which depend on this industry.
“In the absence of clarity from the UK Government on the longer-term impact of the EU referendum vote on EU funding, we will do all we can to champion our shared interests and provide reassurance to our aquaculture industry.
“It is a major Scottish exporter to the EU which is why we will continue to engage with the UK Treasury to get clarity on future funding and to secure Scotland’s place in the single market.”
Mr Ewing also pledged his support for a new Aquaculture industry leadership group to drive growth and improve partnership working between the industry and government.