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Local fisheries area could benefit from £1.2 million of European sustainable development fund

Fisheries industries and communities could benefit from a new European fund to assist sustainable development.

Aberdeenshire Council officers are seeking approval from councillors to try to draw down cash from the £4.5 million European Fisheries Fund’s Axis 4 resource.

Its purpose is to increase the capacity of local fishing communities and business networks to build knowledge and skills, and facilitate innovation and cooperation.

It seeks to promote economic diversification and to build capacity in fisheries-dependent communities across the EU, with the proviso there must be no consequent increase in catching effort.

The programme will be managed by Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), which will represent the fisheries areas in which they are based, and implement an Axis 4 local development strategy for their area once it has been agreed.

In particular, Axis 4 supports measures to promote:

• the strengthening and competitiveness of fisheries areas

• restructuring and redirecting economic activities

• business diversification and value-adding activities

• supporting small fisheries and tourism-related infrastructure and services for the benefit of small fisheries communities

• protecting the environment in fisheries areas

• re-establishing the production potential following natural and industrial disasters

• inter-regional and trans-national co-operation.

The intended beneficiaries include micro, small, medium sized enterprises, third sector organisations and public sector organisations.

Marine Scotland has identified Aberdeenshire as one of the key beneficiary fisheries areas under the programme, allocating a provisional budget of £1.2 million from the resource, which will require match-funding by the public sector.

The programme for the area will be managed by the Aberdeenshire Fisheries Local Action Group, a partnership between the public, private and civic sectors.

The FLAG will develop and implement a Local Fisheries Development Strategy (LFDS) and will assess and approve applications for funding under the project.

At the Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) on August 18, councillors will be asked to commit the council to securing public-sector match-funding, identifying and recruiting appropriate candidates to sit on the Fisheries Local Action Group, providing the chairman and bearing some of the set-up and administrative costs.

The Aberdeenshire LFDS will have to be drawn up and submitted to Marine Scotland by September 9, following consultation with local stakeholders to determine regional priorities.

The council is planning a series of community engagement events in Stonehaven, Fraserburgh, Banff and Peterhead in August, to which all sections of the community with an interest are invited.

Once confirmed, dates and venues will be published and communities encouraged to submit views on strategic priorities for the strategy.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC), Peter Argyle, said: “This project has the potential to deliver benefits in the same way that the rural LEADER programme has in Aberdeenshire, this time for coastal communities.

“We’re looking for the views of all those with an interest in fisheries communities throughout the area to help establish what the priorities should be for the local fisheries development strategy and we hope people will get involved.”

ISC vice-chair Jill Webster said: “We need to have community input into this strategy to ensure it accurately reflects the needs of fishing communities across Aberdeenshire and that funding is targeted in the right areas.

“It should be noted this is not just a fund for those directly involved in the catching or processing sectors – no-one will be excluded if their intentions meet the funding criteria, but it’s vital there’s no increase in catching effort. There is however lots of potential for adding value, to by-catch for example.”

Budgets will be confirmed by Marine Scotland during October. It is anticipated FLAGs will become operational and consider project applications in November 2011.

The Axis 4 programme will contribute to a number of the council’s economic development priorities, including: encouraging businesses to be more market-focused and add value, working with partners to strengthen the market for Aberdeenshire fisheries, helping businesses to develop new products or enter new markets, and helping safeguard existing jobs.

It has the potential to lead to new employment opportunities in previously fisheries dependent communities.

Community-driven projects are encouraged, including those relating to local harbours, tourism, food and drink, renewable energy, training and environmental protection.

It is thought much of the public-sector match-funding required will draw upon council and other programmes already approved, or in preparation, such as Regeneration Priority Zones.

Public sector partners could include organisations such as Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Coastal Communities Fund (Crown Estate) and the National Lottery.

At £1.2 million, Aberdeenshire has a significant share of the Scottish budget of £4.5 million. Funds need to be committed by the end of 2013, although the cash drawdown period extends to the end of 2015.

For further information or to contact Aberdeenshire Council about the development of the local strategy, please email: eff@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

To see information on the Scottish Government’s website, please go to: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/grants-subsidies/communities

Information on Axis 4 relating to Fisheries Local Action Groups can be found here: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/cms/farnet/taxonomy/term/410

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