The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 has distributed grants to businesses and organisations throughout Scotland. This funding includes four key projects managed by Seafood Scotland, Seafish, Salmon Scotland, and MES (Scottish Fishermen’s Federation). The initiatives will support the collection of data on fish stock health, provide safety training for crews, and trial new energy-efficient and environmentally friendly fishing nets.
Marine and Islands Minister Jim Fairlie highlighted the significance of these sectors, stating, “Our seafood and aquaculture sectors are of vital importance to our coastal and island communities and a crucial contributor to Scotland’s economy.” He added that the fund's latest round aims to create a total of 122 jobs. Since 2021, the fund has awarded over £86 million to 499 projects, generating more than £185 million in investment.
Minister Fairlie also expressed concerns regarding the distribution of UK Government funding. He noted that Scotland has been allocated only £28 million of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund over the next 12 years, despite its significant fishing capacity. He emphasised that Scotland accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity, placing its fleet at a disadvantage. The Scottish Government continues to work with the sector to highlight the economic value of Scottish seas.
The breakdown of the 2026-27 awards includes £5.4 million for Aquaculture, £4.7 million for Sea Fisheries, £2 million for Seafood Processing, £1.8 million for Marketing, £1.5 million for Recreational fishing & Wild Salmon, £0.5 million for Marine Litter, and £0.4 million for other areas like marine planning and conservation.
The funding distribution across various council areas, excluding the strategically important projects, shows Aberdeenshire receiving £2,541,015 (19% of awards), Shetland receiving £1,564,251 (12%), and Edinburgh receiving £1,360,712 (10%). Perth and Kinross also received a significant £2,239,642 (17%).
