WIREDGOV

The Scottish Government has secured 40 per cent - £38.83 million - of the UK budget for a new European grants scheme for Scotland's fishing and aquaculture industries.

The £38.83 million figure will be split between the Scottish Highlands and Islands Convergence area (£12.41 million) and the Lowland Scotland Non-Convergence area (£26.42 million).

The new European Fisheries Fund is designed to help modernise and secure the sustainability and international competitiveness of the fishing industry.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, said:

"I am delighted that we have negotiated hard to achieve the lion's share of the UK's allocation of the European Fisheries Funds. This will provide Scotland's vital fishing and fish farming communities with almost £39 million of grant support.

"This money will be used to modernise and secure the sustainability of their businesses over the next six years. The significance of Scotland's fisheries and food industries, in both UK and European terms, is rightly recognised in this settlement."

The European Fisheries Fund replaces the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) grant programme which ran between 2000 and 2006.

The UK money has been allocated as follows:

    * England £26.42 million
    * Scotland £26.42 million
    * Northern Ireland £12.76 million
    * Wales £1.07 million

Separate funds will be available for Cornwall (£7.3 million), West Wales (£10.68 million), and the Scottish Highlands and Islands (£12.41 million).