£930,000 help for Welsh fishing

Fish will be helped to reach new spawning grounds

The fishing industry in Wales is to receive an injection of over £930,000.

Projects include cleaning up riverbanks help for sea fishing in Cardigan Bay, and development of a satellite safety device for people swept overboard.

Barriers will be cleared and passes installed on sections of the Wye and Usk to let fish reach spawning grounds.

"This is the first of a series of funding announcements for Welsh fisheries," said Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, at a fish farm on Anglesey.

The money is split between European funds and the Welsh Assembly Government for five schemes.

The Cardigan Bay Fishermen's Association has secured £263,285 to improve the value of their catch, and a development plan for prawn fishing.

"I look forward to supporting many more innovative projects in the coming months."

More than £245,000 has been announced for the RNLI Man Overboard scheme which includes a special safety device to alert rescue services if someone falls overboard from a fishing boat.

Another £9,908 was awarded to expand a responsible fishing scheme of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, which helps train fishermen.

Altogether £537,534 has been awarded in grants from European Fisheries Funding, with another £394,437 from the Welsh Assembly Government.