£930,000 boost for the Welsh fishing industry

Elin Jones has today announced £930,000 of Welsh Assembly Government and European Fisheries Funding (EFF) to support the fishing industry in Wales.

The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Anglesey based fish farm, Selonda.The sea bass farm, which was awarded £3.6m of European and Welsh Assembly Government fisheries funding in 2002, has become one of the UK's foremost aquaculture enterprises.

The Minister said:

"I am delighted to be on Anglesey to see first hand how Welsh Assembly Government and European funding has supported this thriving sea bass fish farm and hatchery. It is heartening to see that money going to such good effect.

"It is timely that whilst I am here I am able to announce another half a million pounds to support a range of fishing projects in Wales , which will all help us to achieve the aims set out in the Welsh Fisheries Strategy. This is the first of a series of funding announcements for Welsh fisheries, and I look forward to supporting many more innovative projects in the coming months."

The European Fisheries Fund provides grants for the development of a fisheries sector that is sustainable, profitable, well managed and internationally competitive. It will provide approximately 17m Euros of European funding for the fisheries sector up until 2013 with match funding provided by the Welsh Assembly Government

Five projects were approved or conditionally approved at the first EFF selection panel that was held on the 1st July.

These included £523,000 of EFF and Welsh Assembly Government funding for a migratory improvements initiative by the Wye and Usk Foundation. The project will construct easements and fish passes or barrier removal to improve and create fish passages. It will also create access to up to 63 km of new spawning habitat and restore 13 km of targeted river habitat.

The Cardigan Bay Fishermen’s Association were also successful in securing £263,285 for a series of projects that include:

• improving the infrastructure and value of the catch for Cardigan Bay fishermen, and;
• the development of a sustainable development plan for the Cardigan Bay prawn.

The Welsh Federation of Fishermen’s Associations was awarded £13,003 to develop a plan for sustainable fisheries management through local species groups with:

• the industry;
• the World Wildlife Fund, and;
• other stakeholders.

£9,908 was awarded for the expansion of the Sea Fish Industry Authority's Responsible Fishing scheme. This is a UK scheme run in conjunction with Tesco, which trains fishermen in adding value to their sustainable catch. Training leads to accreditation and a badge for their produce, which can increase the price they get for their catch.

Finally £245,550 of funding was awarded to the RNLI Man Overboard project to help ensure the safety of Welsh fisheries via the use of a satellite system which will alert the search and rescue services should a fisher go overboard.

The next EFF Selection Panel will be held on 21 August 2009. Applications to be considered by the panel must be received by 30 July 2009.