Welsh Coastal Communities to net £18m Through UK Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund
Welsh Coastal Communities to net £18m Through UK Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund
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Wales’s fishing and coastal communities are set to benefit from an £18 million investment through the UK Government’s new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, designed to revitalise the fishing industry, support coastal economies, and secure the future of seaside towns across the UK.
The fund, worth £360 million in total, includes £56 million of new money for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with devolved governments given control over how to best allocate the funds to meet local needs.
The Welsh Government will receive £18 million, enabling it to support the fishing and aquaculture sectors, upgrade infrastructure, and invest in training the next generation of fishers.
The targeted funding aims to strengthen the sustainability and economic success of fishing and aquaculture, create jobs, and encourage innovation in coastal communities.
Investment will include support for new technology and equipment to modernise the UK’s fishing fleet, while also enhancing skills and boosting coastal tourism and trade.
Fisheries Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “The grit and determination of fishers throughout the UK brings the best seafood to our dining tables and across the world.
“This fund will revitalise the fishing sector and coastal communities right across the UK, spurring growth as part of our Plan for Change.
“Supporting devolved governments with this new funding will help get the money to where it’s most needed, so the sector can thrive for generations to come.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens welcomed the funding, highlighting the importance of the sector to the Welsh economy.
She said: “Wales’s coastal communities are hugely important and this £18 million allocation for the Welsh Government will help deliver a bright, sustainable future for the fishing industry and those who live on our coast by improving infrastructure, creating jobs and boosting investment in skills.
“The UK Government is also slashing red tape for our seafood exporters and businesses as we work with our partners to deliver economic growth in Wales.”
The UK Government said it will continue working closely with devolved administrations to ensure the funding supports both local priorities and national ambitions for a thriving, sustainable fishing industry.
Mike Cohen, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, added: “There has been commercial fishing in the UK for more than a thousand years.
“Today, it remains integral to many coastal communities and continues to produce some of the best seafood in the world. We can be enormously proud of our heritage, and prouder still that fishing remains full of potential.
“Well managed, and with the right support, fishing can be an engine to drive sustainable growth all around our coastline. This funding is enormously welcome and, if properly targeted, will bring social and economic benefits that will be felt for a long time to come.”
Alongside the new fund, the UK Government is preparing to begin negotiations for a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU this autumn, a move expected to “slash red tape” for seafood exporters and make it easier to sell UK fish to European markets.
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