SFA condemns UK Fishing Fund allocation as ‘betrayal of Scotland’s coastal communities’
Shetland Fishermen’s Association has issued a strong statement of condemnation following the UK Government’s allocation of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, describing the decision as a profound injustice to Scotland’s fishing communities.
Sheila Keith, Executive Officer of the association, said: “This allocation is not just inadequate – it’s a betrayal of Scotland’s fishing communities. The Shetland fishermen, like others across Scotland, contribute significantly to the UK’s seafood economy. Yet we’ve been handed a dismal fraction of the support we need to modernise and sustain our industry.”
The £360 million fund, announced by DEFRA, was intended to revitalise the UK’s fishing fleet and coastal infrastructure through investment in technology, training and sustainability. However, Scotland – whose waters produce over 60% of the UK’s catch and whose communities are deeply reliant on the sector – was allocated less than 8% of the total, a dramatic drop from the previously agreed 47%.
“This is not just a disappointment, it’s a disgrace,” Keith continued. “Scotland’s fishing communities, particularly in Shetland, have long been the backbone of the UK’s seafood sector. To allocate us a token share of this fund is to ignore both our contribution and our needs.”
The decision to apply the Barnett Formula – a population-based funding mechanism – has drawn widespread criticism. Scottish Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon called the allocation “wholly unacceptable”, while the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation described it as a “booby prize” that fails to reflect the scale and significance of Scotland’s fishing industry.
Keith added: “The Barnett Formula is a blunt instrument that has no place in sector-specific funding. It disregards the fact that the majority of UK fishermen live and work in Scotland. This allocation undermines our ability to invest in fleet renewal, infrastructure and sustainability – areas where Shetland leads by example.”
The association also expressed alarm at the broader political context surrounding the fund. The £360 million package has been widely interpreted as a sweetener following the UK Government’s decision to grant EU vessels 12 years of access to UK waters – a move that effectively surrendered the UK’s key bargaining chip in annual quota negotiations. Over that period, EU vessels are expected to extract an estimated £6 billion worth of fish from UK waters.
“We’ve already paid a high price in the Brexit deal,” Keith said. “To now be shortchanged on domestic investment while EU fleets get a free run at our grounds for a further 12 years is deeply troubling. Scotland has lost its share of the fish, and now we’re losing our share of the fund that was meant to ease the damage of that horrific deal.”