Region's fishing industry set to net £1m help towards improvements

The region saw three applications approved by the fund's selection panel, that will mean:

n 479,000 for the storing and maintenance of fishing boats in Withernsea;

n 443,000 for improvements to a cold store and processing unit in Whitby;

n 161,000 for the re-development of a fish processing factory in Hull.

In total, 11 separate grants in England worth a combined 3.2m were announced yesterday.

The biggest single award was 1.22m for the regeneration of Southwold harbour in Suffolk.

Ray Hedley, chairman of the England selection panel and head of Marine Management Organisation's business relation team, said the grants were a major boost for the fishing industry across the country.

He said: "I was very pleased to see so many high quality applications. These are significant investments from both the public and private sectors at this time."

He added: "The EFF is a tool to support the industry in striving to be sustainable, profitable, well managed and internationally competitive."

The EFF provides financial assistance to help to implement the latest reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, and aims to support restructuring in the the fisheries sector.

About 38m has been made available for English fishing projects between 2007 and 2013.