Orkney has been allocated £482,000 of funding to support the development of the fisheries sector and communities.

Orkney is one of 8 areas in Scotland to benefit from the £6.5million made available through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, which provides funding to support fishermen, sustainable aquaculture, the processing sector and communities that depend on them.

The local funding will be administered by a Fisheries Local Action Group, a partnership of local representatives from the local fisheries sector and relevant public bodies and community groups.

Groups in the fishing and aquaculture industries, as well as fisheries based communities, will be able to apply for a share of the funds, with the priorities for funding locally being to facilitate the diversification and sustainable management of the local fisheries sector, development of new market opportunities and added value for fish products and support for initiatives for diversification in fisheries based communities.

Processes will now be put in place to allow the local fund to open in the coming months.  Although the fund is not yet open for applications, groups are invited to enquire about project ideas that would support the local priorities.