Money for fishing communities

ALMOST £300,000 of public funding will be made available in Shetland as part of a scheme diversifying employment opportunities in Scottish fishing communities.

Shetland Islands Council is expected to create a Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) by spring this year to consider applications and decide how the funding will be allocated locally.

The Scottish government said that community-driven projects would be encouraged, including those relating to tourism, food and drink, renewable energy, training and environmental protection.

Fishing minister Richard Lochhead said: “I want our fragile fishing communities to become more resilient, and creating new employment opportunities for local people is a key part in making this a reality.

“This funding can help unlock the potential of our coastal communities, ensuring that they can be successful and sustainable in the years to come.”

Shetland is one of 13 local authority areas that share a total of £4.2 million from the European Fisheries Fund, which councils need to co-finance in order to access it.

Shetland’s share of the EU cash is £217,879, plus £72,626 coming from the local authority.