The West of Morecambe Fisheries Fund, established to support fishing communities operating in the eastern Irish Sea, has opened for applications from the fishing industry.
The fund is an innovative approach to enable both the wind farm operators of the Ormonde, Walney 1 and 2, West of Duddon Sands wind farms and fishing industry to work together to undertake projects of benefit to the local fishing communities. Over £300,000 is available to support projects over the next 5 years.
Ron Graham, Chairman of the NFFO West Coast Committee said: “The establishment of the fund follows extensive dialogue between both of our industries towards realising working arrangements that can demonstrate that co-existence between both of our industries is a possibility. The fund doesn’t deal with all of our issues but it forms an important element.”
Dale Rodmell, Assistant Chief Executive for the NFFO said: “It has taken a lot of work to get off the ground, but this is an important step forward on the part of the renewables industry to recognise the fishing communities whose fishing grounds they now share. I believe the fund has the potential to become an exemplar of best practice to show others what can be achieved through a proactive approach.”
Initial applications are invited from fishermen’s organisations from England and Northern Ireland to be received by 30th September 2013. Preference will be given to projects that have wide fishing community benefit and do not represent a disproportionate use of funds for any one community.
Applications will be considered by an industry advisory panel comprising of representatives from all relevant fishing ports, as well as a steering group represented by the four wind farm operators.
Application forms can be downloaded from [Download here] and should be submitted by email to andy@womff.com or by post to:
WOMFF Applications c/o NFFO 30 Monkgate York YO31 7PF
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Press release, September 3, 2013; Image: Vattenfall