During his visit Mr Lochhead will announce further investment in the food industry and the latest round of European Fisheries Fund (EFF) grants.

He will also sail on a Marine Scotland vessel, visit the European Marine Energy Centre, meet with Orkney Fisheries Association and view operations at Scottish Sea Farms Ltd and Orkney Fishermen's Society. He will also visit Orkney Isle Preserves, a business which has been approved funding from the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

Speaking ahead of the visit Mr Lochhead said: 'I am delighted to be visiting Orkney where I will be announcing major investments in key rural industries.

'Scotland s food, farming and fishing sector are vital to the economy, health and well-being of our nation and we must support them now and in the future. I relish this opportunity to view some of the exciting developments here for myself.

'As Scotland s Fisheries Secretary this is also an invaluable chance for me to meet personally with Orkney Fisheries Association and discuss the issues relevant to them. I will also be visiting Orkney fishermen s society, a key crab processor and Scottish Sea Farms Ltd, one of the major farmed Atlantic salmon producers in Scotland.

'And with changes to our environment becoming increasingly inevitable it is heartening to see this issue being taken seriously across the length of Scotland. I look forward to viewing examples of prototype wave and tidal energy devices at the European Marine Energy Centre and hearing of Orkney Isle Preserves plans to make the transition to renewable energy.'

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---