UK fishing fund offer to Scotland is 'madness', minister told

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation has described the funding as "close to derisory"

The UK government has been told that its decision to give less than 8% of a £360m fishing fund to Scotland is "ocean-going madness".

MPs, the Scottish government and industry bodies have criticised the plans and called for Labour ministers to rethink the investment.

Scotland has been allocated £28m from the £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund - a share of about 8% despite Scottish vessels typically landing more than half of the UK's catch.

Labour environment minister Angela Eagle said the UK government was working with communities to "maximise" the value of the fund.

Although Scottish vessels make up about 40% of the UK fleet, they account for more than 60% of the UK's fishing capacity and more than 60% of its seafood exports.

Earlier this week, Labour ministers announced the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to "modernise and revitalise the UK's fishing fleet".

Labour minister Angela Eagle has defended the funding allocation

The fund is devolved, meaning the Scottish government will decide how its share is spent north of the border. However, it has been allocated in line with the Barnett Formula, which is based on population size.

That means that while Scotland is to receive £28m, England will get more than £300m, with Wales and Northern Ireland allocated £18m and £10m respectively.

The issue was raised in an urgent question in the House of Commons.

Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, pointed out that Shetland alone accounted for about 9% of the UK catch, but that Scotland as a whole would receive less than 8% of the fund.

He told Eagle: "If the minister is sincere when she says that the aim of the government is to maximise local investment then to use the Barnett Formula to distribute this is ocean-going madness."

SNP MP Seamus Logan said the fund had provoked "anger, dismay and sense of betrayal" in coastal communities.

And Scottish Labour MP Torcuil Crichton, who represents the Western Isles, questioned the "fairness" of the fund and called on the Department for Food and Rural Affairs to review it.

'Insulting to Scottish fishing'

In a letter to Eagle, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon described the funding allocation as "wholly unacceptable".

She said Scotland should be given at least 46% of the investment, which she said it received under the previous EU funding allocation to the UK.

"It is unjustified and nothing short of insulting to the Scottish fishing industry and our coastal communities," Gougeon said.

"It also disproportionately benefits your own fishing sector in England - for whom you have retained over £300m, despite landing significantly smaller catches than Scotland."

The fund has been announced in the wake of anger from the fishing industry over a fresh Brexit deal signed by Sir Keir Starmer's government.

It extends existing access for EU boats in British waters for 12 years, in exchange for reduced checks and restrictions on UK food exports.

Scottish Fishermen's Federation chief executive Elspeth Macdonald described the funding announcement as "close to derisory" and a "bitter blow".

"This is a grossly unfair division when Scotland comprises by far the largest part of the UK fishing industry, routinely accounting for around 60% of landings by both tonnage and value.

"It's hard to feel that this government cares one jot about the Scottish fishing industry."

Defending the fund, Eagle told MPs: "We are working closely with our fishing and seafood sectors to ensure that they are vibrant profitable and sustainable alongside a healthy and productive marine environment."

She said the fund would support the next generation of fishers by supporting training and technology upgrades.

The minister added that devolving the fund was the best way to ensure it met regional requirements and highlighted that the Scottish government had been given a record budget settlement.

Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill added that the fund, which is expected to be delivered next year, would help "deliver a bright, sustainable future for the fishing industry".