"We are continuing to back Scotland's marine economy," said Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon.
Photo: Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government announced that projects aimed at supporting Scotland's marine economy will benefit from a GBP 16 million investment following the expansion of the Marine Fund Scotland, and that the deadline to apply for grants is now open.
Opened on March 18, the application period closes on May 15, 2026, at 23:59. In its statement, the Scottish Government said the funding will invest in the marine environment and vital sectors such as fishing and processing, protecting and supporting long-term sustainability and employment in coastal and island communities.
"The funding can support eligible individuals, businesses, organisations and communities to deliver projects which contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, reducing carbon emissions and supporting coastal communities," it explained on its website.
In announcing the requirements and how to apply for funding from Marine Fund Scotland, the Scottish Government said that applications received after this date will be considered for future calls, but added a warning: "However, we cannot guarantee a second round will be held."
This warning appears to be related to statements made by Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, during her visit to the port of Dunbar, which previously benefited from a grant to improve security at the facilities.
There, in addition to noting that, as mentioned, the expanded fund is now open for applications, she took the opportunity to express her dissatisfaction with what she described as the UK Government's "derisory" allocation from the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to Scotland this year.
"We are continuing to back Scotland's marine economy, which is crucial to the economic, social and cultural fabric of our rural, coastal and island communities," Gougeon said. "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 GBP 360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to Scotland has directly impacted support budgets."
"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," Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary continued.
"Together with Scottish fishing industry leaders, we have, and will continue to demand, urgent action from a UK Government which doesn't appear to understand or indeed care about Scotland's fishing and coastal communities," she added.
Mairi Gougeon, who took advantage of the meeting with fishermen in Dunbar to urge "anyone with a project designed to help marine industries to evolve and flourish" to apply, recalled that, since 2021, the Marine Fund Scotland has awarded more than GBP 69 million in grants to 390 projects, facilitating a total of GBP 121 million of investment and supporting jobs and communities throughout the country.
Last year alone, 60 projects received funding with grants ranging from approximately GBP 2,000 to GBP 1.7 million—the budget for 2025-2026 was initially GBP 14 million. Previously, in 2024, another GBP 14 million had been allocated, of which aquaculture ventures secured more than GBP 2.5 million.
Among previously successful projects, the Scottish Government highlighted the innovative modernization of processing plants to reduce energy consumption and waste, support for young fishermen to acquire their first fishing boats, and support for fishermen in general to develop their businesses and provide improved safety training for them, as well as improvements to ports and the creation of additional fish processing capacity.
As mentioned above, Dunbar harbour, where Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon made the announcement about the expansion of the Marine Fund Scotland, has been one of the beneficiaries of these port improvements thanks to the Fund's financing.
"It was really valuable to hear first-hand from local fishers about the challenges they face, the pressures on inshore fishing businesses, and their passion and commitment for a sustainable future for the industry," Gougeon said following the visit.