Fishing funding package announced

Fishing leaders say fuel prices have had a major impact

A multi-million pound funding package aimed at helping Scottish fishermen cope with high fuel bills has been announced.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said the industry would get almost £29m over the next three years.

It is aimed at compensating fishermen who say fuel bills have doubled in the past year.

The plan includes fuel efficiency measures and improving the marketing of Scottish seafood.

'Crippling increase'

The European and Scottish funding was announced at a meeting of the Fuel Task Force in Aberdeen.

Mr Lochhead said: "The Scottish Government is determined to help the fishing industry adapt to high fuel costs and although we can't control the price of fuel, we will do what we can to help in other ways.

"The fishing industry has been particularly hard hit with the crippling increase in fuel prices. Fuel costs count for as much as half the earnings of boats and cannot be passed on.

"Through the Fuel Task Force we have worked closely with the industry to pull together the outline of a three-year plan of action that will help the fishing industry in Scotland adapt to cope with rising fuel costs."