Fish industry nets £1.75m haul

A £1.75-million funding package has been landed for two projects that will propel Grimsby's fish processing capabilities to the forefront of the global industry.

Grimsby Seafood Village and Grimsby Fish Market will benefit from a European Fisheries Fund grant – a catch that will top up the financing for 20 state-of-the-art units on land beside the huge Yearsley cold store.

And the cash for the market will be added to that already secured from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward to bring in long sought-after temperature control and a raft of other measures that will delight key retail customers.

WINDFALL: Celebrating the news that funding for the Grimsby Seafood village has been secured are, from left, Dr Geoff Taylor, retired director Ron Woods, chief executive of the Fish Merchants Association Steve Norton, joint managing director of the Grimsby Seafood Village Gary Cadey, chief executive of Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises Martyn Boyers and joint managing director of Grimsby Seafood Village Pete Dalton.

The announcement sparked a double celebration on the market floor at the natural home of UK seafood once the day’s sales were completed.

Taking Grimsby Seafood Village forward are Pete Dalton and Gary Cadey, joint managing directors of Grimsby Seafood Village Ltd, a consortium that has worked hard for five years.

Of the £1-million it has received, Mr Dalton said: "We hope planning permission can be granted as soon as possible. Once that happens, the contractors are in place to start the build immediately."

It is hoped the first processors will move into the facility, on land off Wickham Road, before Christmas.

It will eventually accommodate up to 40 small to medium-sized companies, offering a future for those currently housed in out-dated and inadequate buildings in an area of the docks known as The Kasbah.

More than 25 firms have already committed to moving into the new facility.

Its first phase will see 20 self-contained units built, each with 2,000sq ft of factory working space plus 1,500sq ft for offices and storage.

A second phase is expected to double the number of units, with training facilities for the art of filleting and other requirements also included.

By combining all units on one site, it is planned to share facilities such as cold stores, a distribution centre and other common fish processes.

Mr Dalton said: "We’d like to thank everybody who has supported the scheme and shown faith in us.

"We know how important it is to the industry and people have been incredibly patient. Now, they will see the rewards."

For Grimsby Fish Market, operated by Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, the £750,000 award is more money in the pot for the proposals that were boosted by Yorkshire Forward’s pledge of £2.7-million for markets on both banks of the Humber.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of GFDE, said: "This is very much a bonus. We are now looking forward to getting down to work on the project and delivering all the plans.

"It is long overdue, we have been working at this for some time, and now it has all come together. We have still got to do some work with Yorkshire Forward and North East Lincolnshire Council around drawing the money out, but it is all very good new for Grimsby and the industry."

The double announcement has been welcomed by Steve Norton, chief executive of Grimsby’s Fish Merchants Association.

Members could well march into the organisation’s centenary year of 2011 with new facilities to make the very most out of.

And both Mr Norton and Martyn Boyers underlined the importance of sustainable development in an industry rocked by London giant British Seafood, which has strong local connections, being plunged into administration this week, as reported yesterday.

Of the EFF funding, Mr Norton said: "This is marvellous news for Grimsby. On a day when we have had bad news about British Seafood, this is the end of a very long and often torturous process to secure much- needed public funding which is essential for the sustainability of our industry."

The two schemes, brought forward separately by the consortium headed by Mr Dalton and Mr Cadey, and Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, will serve each other well. Mr Norton said: "The schemes are complementary. It is a chicken and egg situation with fish – we need the market to sell it, and the processors need modern 21st century food processing units. Equally the relocation to new facilities should assist with future plans Associated British Ports has for further development of the port estate."

Offshore wind farm support is a major focus for Grimsby, with operations and maintenance bases established for those behind the renewable energy resource that being embarked upon from a strategic Humber base.

Mr Boyers said: "What is happening with British Seafood shows the perilous nature of the fishing industry. We have to be mindful of this as we have to make sure any development is sustainable and profitable."