European Fisheries Fund: Axis 4

An overview

Derek McDonald

Rural and Maritime Industries Development Officer

Economic Development

Purpose and delivery of Axis 4

• ‘to promote economic diversification and an improved quality of life for fisheries communities’

• Delivery by bottom up Leader-style approach• Enabling role of Fisheries Local Action Group

(FLAG) partnership• Aberdeenshire Council - Lead Partner

Measures eligible for Axis 4 funding :

• Maintaining economic and social prosperity • Adding value to fisheries products

• Maintaining and developing jobs in fisheries areas through diversification

• promoting the quality of the coastal environment (and access to it)

• promoting national and transnational co-operation between fisheries areas

Budget

• UK: £13.5M

• Scotland: £4.5M

• Aberdeenshire £1.3M

• No Scottish Gov match funding

• Lead authority required to commit to finding public sector match funding

Axis 4 Timescale

• Expression of Interest lodged 26 May• FLAGs to submit strategy (LFDP) to

Marine Scotland by 9 Sept 2011• FLAGs notified by end Oct 2011• FLAGs open for business Nov 2011• All funds committed by Dec 2013• Drawdown allowed until mid 2015

FLAG partnership

• Public sector (Aberdeenshire Council, SNH, SE, VisitScotland, Banff and Buchan College)

• Private sector - Fisheries industry (SWFPA, SFO, SSPF, FSB)

• Civic sector - Community groups and organisations (Aberdeenshire Community Councils, East Grampian Coastal Partnership, Banff Coast Tourism Partnership

Role of FLAG partnership

• Prepare and implement LFDS

• Promote Axis 4, inform, encourage bids

• Assess project applications, determine approvals and funding intensity

• Devise robust, transparent assessment methodology and procedures

Council role as Lead Authority

• Bear initial costs and administrative burden (EoI, setting up FLAG, anchoring work on LFDS)

• Provide working capital

• Strategic commitment to find public sector match-funding (£1.3M)

Aberdeenshire Axis 4 objectives (from Expression of Interest)

• Improve social and community cohesion

• Improve infrastructure to facilitate diversification from fisheries-only activities

• Improve the local environment and access to it

Objectives (contd)

• Improve the conditions for economic development and regeneration

• Add value to fish products

• Promote the cultural heritage of Aberdeenshire’s fishing communities