UK awards GBP 3.9 million to seafood industry projects through UK Seafood Fund

The U.K. Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has awarded GBP 3.9 million (USD 4.7 million, EUR 4.5 million) to seafood projects in the United Kingdom.

The funding, awarded through the GBP 100 million (USD 121.8 million, EUR 115.2 million) U.K. Seafood Fund, will go to projects to improve the quality of training facilities to both upskill the workforce and promote seafood careers and to projects building new and improved fishing infrastructure. The U.K. Seafood Fund was established to support the long-term future and sustainability of the nation’s fisheries and seafood sector.

“We have already seen the great success that funding from the UK Seafood Fund has contributed to - from upgrading ports and aquaculture facilities to creating innovative training programs to attract fresh blood into the sector,” U.K. Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said in a release.

The funding, DEFRA said, includes GBP 3 million (USD 3.6 million, EUR 3.4 million)  which will go to the Scottish White Fish Producers Association to build a “Scottish Seafood Centre of Excellence” to replace the current temporary training space the association is using with a permanent facility. The new facility will include purpose-built classrooms, technology demonstration spaces, and facilities for blended training, DEFRA said.

Scotland will also receive funding for upgrading the Maritime Bridge Simulator at the University of the Highlands and Islands’ campus, located in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

“Our members and the wider seafood sector are delighted at the award of GBP 3 million pounds from the Defra training infrastructure fund, which will allow us to build a seafood Centre of excellence at the very heart of our fishing community,” Scottish White Fish Producers Association Chief Executive Mike Park said. “The Centerwill be the delivery point and hub for both onshore and offshore training supported by classroom and virtual learning and will provide an ideal base to help stimulate recruitment to the seafood sector.”

Other projects receiving support include refurbishing training facilities in Portavogie, Northern Ireland; and refurbishing facilities in Grimsby, U.K. to create a new Seafood School.

“Today’s investment will help to support the industry so that our existing and future workforce is equipped with the necessary skills and facilities to join the sector and benefit from the brilliant opportunities that are available to them with a career in seafood,” Spencer said.

The U.K. Seafood Fund was originally slated to come to a close in 2024, but was given an extension until 31 March, 2025 in August 2022.  

Photo courtesy of the University of Highlands and Islands