Let Scotland control handouts for its own seafood sector, urges Gougeon
Holyrood minister claims UK government fund is causing confusion
Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has accused the UK government of causing “unnecessary confusion and duplication” by giving grants to Scottish seafood companies.
The criticism by Gougeon, whose ministerial portfolio includes aquaculture, follows last week’s announcement that Aquascot’s salmon processing plant at Alness in Ross-shire and Mowi Scotland’s Blar Mhor primary processing plant, Fort William, were to receive a total of £5.7 million from the £100 m UK Seafood Food to help fund expansion.
Waitrose supplier Aquascot was awarded £3.7 m to increase capacity and Mowi was given £2 m towards the £15 m cost of expanding processing capacity to more than 80,000 tonnes per year.
Peterhead-based Denholm Seafoods Limited was also granted £2.9 m as part of a £30 m strategic development to increase production and freezing throughput of mackerel and herring.
Devolved to Scottish Government
“We always welcome investment in Scottish businesses, and I am pleased to see that the high quality of our marine and seafood produce has been recognised. However, through this fund the UK Government continues to make spending decisions on marine and fisheries in Scotland, which is an area devolved to the Scottish Government,” Gougeon said in a press release today.
Our close and detailed engagement with our marine and seafood sectors means we are in the best position to support investments that deliver benefits to Scotland.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon
“We have continually pressed the UK Government to commit to providing the Scottish Government with a fair share of the £100 million pot which recognises the size and significance of our marine sectors, to distribute in line with our priorities.
“Instead, what we have is the UK Seafood Fund operating in the same space as our own established Marine Fund Scotland scheme, which already provides vital targeted grant assistance to the Scottish marine and seafood sectors to enhance quality, support innovation and add value. This causes unnecessary confusion and duplication.
“Scotland’s valuable seafood industry requires continued support as it navigates the dreadful impacts of EU exit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis. Our close and detailed engagement with our marine and seafood sectors means we are in the best position to support investments that deliver benefits to Scotland.”
