On Monday, the UK Government announced a total of £360 million of investment through the new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, with £56m of the funding allocated to Scotland (£28m), Wales (£18m) and Northern Ireland (£10m).

Announcing the funding, which was allocated to each nation based on the Barnett Formula, Fisheries Minister Angela Eagle said the money will “revitalise” the fishing sector and coastal communities across the UK by “supporting” devolved governments.

However, Rural Affairs Secretary Gougeon has hit out at the UK Government’s lack of allotment of funding for Scotland, “given the size and importance” of the country’s fishing industry to the economy.

READ MORE: Call for Labour to drop this ‘vague’ rule to strip Prince Andrew of titles

Gougeon added that the 7% allocated is “disastrously short” of the 46% share of investment the Scottish Government sought based on the share Scotland previously received from the EU’s funding to the UK.

(Image: PA)

“The UK Government has chosen to ignore the needs of Scotland’s fishing industry and coastal communities with this totally unacceptable allocation of funds, yet again demonstrating that they do not understand or indeed care about our fishing industry,” she said. 

“The Scottish fishing sector accounts for almost half of the UK industry and an allocation of just 7.78% of the budget (£28 million out of a total of £360 million) is a totally unacceptable share given the size and importance of the fishing industry to Scotland’s economy.

“It is disastrously short of the £166 million, or 46% share of funding, that we sought based on the share Scotland previously received from the EU funding allocated to the UK. This leaves the industry in England benefitting from more than £300 million of the total funding.”

In August, experts said Scottish salmon export sales could break through the £1 billion barrier for the first time, driven by growing international demand.

Figures showed that salmon export sales jumped 33% to £941m in the year to the end of June 2025.

Meanwhile, UK vessels landed a total of 719 thousand tonnes of sea fish with a value of £1.1bn in 2023, with Scottish vessels landing 501 thousand tonnes of sea fish and shellfish equating to a value of around £683m. 

(Image: CA Creative on Unsplash)

Gougeon added: “This disproportionate allocation of funding comes at a time when the Scottish fishing industry is dealing with multiple pressures, from the agreement to extend EU access to Scottish waters, to the ongoing discussions on cod and mackerel quotas for 2026.

“This decision is an insult to Scotland and its vital fishing industry. It will remove the previously agreed approach for fisheries funding linked to fishing effort and we are concerned that it may lead to a competitive advantage for the English sector, with greater subsidy of the applicable costs. 

“This decision must be reversed because it is unjustifiable and it is unacceptable. As a matter of urgency I am writing to the UK Government calling for this decision to be reconsidered.”