In a round of funding there were 47 successful Orkney applications from the Sea Fisheries Fund totalling £237,400.

Westray Processors will receive £41,718 from the Scottish Seafood Business Resilience Fund (SSBRF) Orkney Fishermen’s Society Ltd will receive £100,000 from the same fund.

The seafood and shellfish sector was especially impacted by COVID-19. Approximately 80% of businesses were forced to cease production, largely due to the limited availability of raw materials – fish and shellfish – through the closure of the main fish markets in Scotland and associated market closures. The shellfish sector was further impacted by disruption to exports to China, prior to COVID-19, and businesses in Scotland had been struggling previously due to increased price of raw materials and increased overheads.

Funding of £122,400 has been awarded through the Marine Fund Scotland 2021-2022 for extending the pier at St Margaret’s Hope. The total cost of the project: £204,000.

In total the Scottish Government’s Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) has provided fishing businesses and marine organisations in coastal communities with £7.4 million in funding.

Rural Affairs Secretary in the Scottish Government Mairi Gougeon said:

“I am delighted for those organisations and individuals whose applications were successful in this and previous rounds.

“We are investing in Scotland’s seafood sectors, creating and maintaining jobs and livelihoods, while also helping to protect Scotland’s marine environment.

“Future Marine Fund Scotland awards will play a key role in supporting the sustainable development of our Blue Economy outlined in the Vision document I launched last week.

“We will continue to use the limited funding we do have to deliver maximum effect through the Marine Fund Scotland, but will also continue to press the UK Government to respect devolution of marine funding and recognise the size and importance of Scotland’s marine sectors.”