Scottish Officials Reject UK £360M Fishing Fund Allocation as Unfair

The UK Government has announced a £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to support coastal communities and the fishing industry, but Scotland is set to receive only £28 million, roughly 8% of the total, sparking widespread criticism. Scottish officials and fishing groups, including MP Alistair Carmichael, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon, and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, have condemned the funding allocation as "grossly unfair" and "wholly unacceptable," arguing it does not reflect Scotland's significant share of the UK fishing industry, which accounts for over 60% of landings by value and volume. The funds are being distributed according to the Barnett Formula based on population, which critics say disproportionately favors England despite Scotland's larger role in fishing. Gougeon highlighted that Scotland’s annual share of this funding is insufficient to support its fishing communities and called for a reconsideration to align more closely with previous EU funding levels. The UK Environment Minister, Angela Eagle, defended the fund, emphasizing its aim to support the next generation of fishers and coastal communities, and insisted the fund would be devolved, giving Scottish authorities discretion over allocation. However, industry leaders and politicians maintain this approach fails to adequately compensate Scotland for the impacts of EU fishing access agreements and the overall importance of its fishing sector.