The European Maritime Fisheries Fund provides support for the sustainable development of fisheries and coastal areas, which includes the Outer Hebrides. It aims to increase the capacity of local fishing communities and business networks to build knowledge and skills, and to encourage innovation and co-operation in order to tackle local fisheries development needs and objectives.
To address the challenges identified above and develop opportunities for fisheries areas the following objectives are identified from EU Regulation 508/2013:
- Increase fisheries area employment and competitiveness by promoting fisheries sustainability and diversification of fishing effort (Article 63 1a, 1b)
- Develop alternative fisheries area employment through business diversification (Article 63 1b)
- Promote and market demand for local fisheries products (Article 63 1a)
- Increase onshore added value activity utilising locally caught product (Article 63 1a)
- Improve networking, training and development of best practice (Article 63 1e)
- Increase younger industry participant career progression and succession (Article 63 1a)
The following measures were identified, which with EMFF support, are aimed at addressing the issues raised at local community consultations when developing the Outer Hebridean programme:
- Stock assessment and effort data collection to support sustainable fisheries management; development of sustainable fisheries management plan; good practice/information dissemination
- Development of alternative non-quota fisheries and markets
- Support for alternative fisheries community business opportunities and infrastructure development e.g. tourism, renewables
- Support for onshore added value and supply chain development, including logistics
- Promotion of fisheries accreditation
- Development programme to build small fisheries communities capacity to drive own change and adopt best practice/successful training methods
To submit an expression of interest: Expression of Interest Form: and send to Pete Middleton at p.middleton@cne-siar.gov.uk Please note that all projects must be completed and claims submitted by 31 December 2020.
Pete Middleton, Outer Hebrides EMFF
p.middleton@cne-siar.gov.uk Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2BW Tel: 01851 600 501
