Funding for Orkney’s fishing community

Orkney is set to benefit from funding to support the development of the fisheries sector and communities.

The funding will be allocated from the national European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and is for rural coastal and fishing communities.

Once the funding is in place, a Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) will administer the local funds.  The FLAG is a partnership of representatives of the local fisheries sector as well as relevant public bodies and community groups.

A diverse range of projects will be eligible to apply, with the priorities of the funding in Orkney being to support diversification and sustainable management of the local fisheries sector, development of new market opportunities and added value for fish products, and to support initiatives for diversification in fisheries based communities.

James Stockan, Orkney Island Council’s chairman of the development and infrastructure committee, said: “This is very welcome news for Orkney. Our historic fishing industry is an integral part of our economy and community, and it is important that we continue to develop it economically and sustainably.

“This funding could be extremely beneficial to our fishing community and help ongoing development in the industry.”

Work will now begin on putting processes in place to allow the local fund to open in the coming months.