Fishing communities in Moray and the Highlands have secured over £220,000 of funding from the Highland & Moray Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG).

The latest round of funding aims to boost the marine economy and create employment opportunities for communities.

Recipients include:

• North 58° Sea Adventures - £16,208 to expand their marine wildlife tourism business to Lossiemouth harbour

• Ullapool Harbour Trust - £53,737 towards a new shellfish storage facility and landing derrick to support the local fishing industry, as well as a further £100,000 to upgrade a nearby launching jetty and laydown area.

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• Loch Snizort Shellfish - £9,883 towards a new seafood café on the Isle of Skye

• Avoch Harbour Trust - £41,913 towards harbour improvements including installation of pontoons to increase berthing space at the harbour

Kevin Peach, Harbour Master, Ullapool Harbour Trust, said: "Supporting the local inshore fleet is a large part of the Trusts remit, having a dedicated landing derrick and a live shellfish storage building is something we have aspired to for many years and thankfully with help of FLAG funding we can now realise these aspirations.

"Our launching jetty has been in existence for over 100 years and is in urgent need of upgrading, lengthening and widening to make it fit for purpose for today's marine leisure sector and inshore fishing fleet. The extensive project will require significant investment and without FLAG funding the project would not be taken forward."

(LM/MH)