Scotland Unveils £14 Million Marine Fund Boost for Sustainable Blue Growth

Scotland has announced a new £14 million funding round for Marine Fund Scotland, focused on accelerating sustainability, ocean innovation, and community resilience across 2024–25 and into 2025–26. This marks the fourth consecutive year of investment under the government’s Blue Economy Vision, supporting a wide range of projects—from decarbonising seafood processing to tackling marine litter and protecting wild fisheries.

Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon confirmed the figures during the Fisheries Management Scotland conference, pointing out that 91 successful projects received funding in the previous round, with grants ranging from a few hundred pounds to over £1.6 million.

Among last year’s notable winners:

  • Upgrading seafood plants to save energy and boost efficiency.

  • Harbour enhancements, including community clean‑ups and marine litter programs.

  • Projects protecting wild Atlantic salmon by monitoring and controlling invasive species.

First Minister John Swinney has confirmed that this year’s round will support 67 new projects, spanning fisheries, aquaculture, seafood processing, and marine environmental initiatives. Key recipients include:

  • Seafood Scotland allocated the largest single grant (~£1.7 m) for market development.

  • DekMar Ltd in Aberdeen for plastic and rope recycling (~£700k).

  • Fisheries Innovation and Sustainability (FIS) for Smartrawl trial deployment—an AI-driven bycatch reduction technology (£127k), plus a net‑zero vessel power data project (£27k).

  • Support for community-level infrastructure improvements, coastal training hubs, and social responsibility programs.

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Why It Matters

  • Promotes a net‑zero blue economy: The fund backs initiatives aligned with Scotland’s ambition to decarbonise its marine and coastal sectors.

  • Boosts coastal communities: Investments span from job creation and training opportunities to modernised harbour facilities.

  • Encourages innovation: Funding supports cutting‑edge solutions like AI‑powered fishing tech, sustainable packaging, and marine conservation efforts.

  • Strengthens advocacy: Scottish ministers continue to push for full replacement of EU-era funding and a fair share of UK‑level support.

With another £14 m in funding, the Scottish Government is doubling down on its vision for a thriving, sustainable marine economy. By advancing decarbonisation, fostering cutting-edge marine technology, and supporting coastal livelihoods, Scotland aims to meet its net‑zero climate targets—all while empowering local communities from Shetland to Skye to Aberdeen.