Scotland’s Marine Fund has been expanded to £16 million, with ministers saying the cash will back projects that support marine industries, protect jobs and strengthen coastal communities. The latest round opens as the Scottish Government continues to criticise Westminster’s allocation of fishing and coastal funding.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon announced the fund during a visit to Dunbar harbour, where previous support has helped improve on-site safety. She said the scheme has already delivered significant returns for the sector, adding: “Since 2021, the Marine Fund Scotland has awarded more than £69m in grants to 390 projects, facilitating a total of £121m of investment and supporting jobs and communities throughout the country.”
She urged marine businesses and organisations with projects designed to help the sector to apply, saying: “I urge anyone with a project designed to help marine industries to evolve and flourish to apply.”
Ms Gougeon also described Scotland’s marine economy as “crucial to the economic, social and cultural fabric of our rural, coastal and island communities”.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a row over the UK Government’s Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, after Scotland was allocated just 7.78% of the £360 million pot. The Scottish Government has argued that this is far below what is needed, pointing out that Scotland previously received 46% of comparable EU fisheries and marine funding.
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Ms Gougeon said the UK decision had directly affected support budgets, stating: “We want to invest more in our fishing and coastal communities, unfortunately the unjust decision of the UK Government to allocate a derisory 7.78% of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to Scotland has directly impacted support budgets.”
She added: “When part of the EU, Scotland received 46% of the UK’s allocation of fisheries and marine funding in recognition of our significant marine area and industries. That is why I am continuing to call for urgent action to revisit this decision.”
The Scottish Government says the expanded fund will help projects across fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing and wider marine activity, with support aimed at improving sustainability and long-term resilience. Since its launch in 2021, Marine Fund Scotland has supported hundreds of projects and leveraged further investment across the sector.
