£16m for Scottish fishing and aquaculture
The Scottish Government has awarded £16m to 99 seafood and aquaculture projects, supporting jobs and coastal communities
Ninety-nine seafood and aquaculture projects across Scotland are set to share more than £16 million in Scottish Government funding, with the investment expected to support an estimated 122 jobs in coastal and island communities.
The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 has awarded grants to businesses and organisations working across the country, including four strategically important projects led by Seafood Scotland, Seafish, Salmon Scotland and Marine Environmental Services.
“Our seafood and aquaculture sectors are of vital importance to our coastal and island communities and a crucial contributor to Scotland’s economy,” said Marine and Islands Minister Jim Fairlie. “It is great that this £16 million round of the Marine Fund Scotland will support projects that aim to create a total of 122 jobs.”
The funding will support a range of initiatives, including the collection of data on fish stock health, safety training for fishing crews and trials of more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly fishing nets.
The latest awards bring the Marine Fund Scotland’s total investment since 2021 to more than £86 million across 499 projects. The Scottish Government said the programme has generated more than £185 million in investment.
Fairlie said the latest funding would also contribute to the Scottish Government’s ambition to increase aquaculture production and sales by £3.5 million.
“By backing industry, we want to play our part in increasing aquaculture production and sales by £3.5 million,” he said. “The successful projects will improve the marine and coastal environment, provide essential data collection, training, and education, while giving people the chance to get involved in helping to preserve our incredible seas.”
The minister also criticised the allocation of UK Government funding for fishing and coastal development.
“Over the next 12 years, Scotland has only been allocated £28 million of the total £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund set by UK Government,” Fairlie said, arguing that the allocation fails to reflect Scotland’s importance to the UK fishing industry.
He said Scotland accounts for more than 60% of UK fishing capacity, leaving its fleet at a ‘serious disadvantage’, and added that the Scottish Government would continue working with the sector to highlight the economic and community value of Scottish waters.
