£5.25 million grants boost for English fishing industry

£5.25 million in grants has been awarded to the English fishing industry from the European Fisheries Fund.

The largest single grant was £2.3 million for a new fish market in Newlyn, Cornwall. It is subject to assurances from the new Newlyn Harbour Commissioners who are expected to be appointed before Easter.

CONSERVATIVE Shadow Minister Richard Benyon said the Newlyn fishing community has entered a new golden era in its search for a change.

The member for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs visited the port last week with MEP Julie Girling and St Ives parliamentary candidate Derek Thomas.

He promised an audience of around a dozen members of the fishing community that he would do all he could to help struggling fleets around the UK.

NEWLYN regeneration plans look set to get a long-awaited kick start with the adoption of new harbour regulations.

Eleven new commissioners are expected to be selected by Easter, when the revised Harbour Revision Order (HRO) should also come into force.

The Department for Transport has confirmed that the draft order was put out for 42-day consultation last week and the advertisement for new commissioners could be published in The Cornishman as early as next week.

The order has been considered by the Secretary of State for Transport before it replaces the former Newlyn Pier and Harbour Order from 1996. Following a meeting with the Transport minister, West Cornwall MP Andrew George warned MP Paul Clarke that many will vent their extreme irritation at his department unless the new commission is up and running as soon as possible.

NEWLYN fish market has been dealt another funding blow with the decision on the anticipated grant application deferred until next year.

The Marine and Fisheries Agency's grants panel for the European Fisheries Fund has postponed its verdict pending further information on match funding and the future governance of the port.

The funding body met on Wednesday last week to discuss the £2.4 million grant application to replace facilities at the port with a new £5 million market hall, auction theatre and meeting room.

However, the panel felt it couldn't make a decision until matters related to harbour governance and match funding have been resolved.