Fishing communities in the Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (AIE) area have been given a significant boost after tapping into a European initiative designed to help fishing dependent communities.

The Argyll and the Islands PESCA Programme, which helps fishing communities by providing individual grants for projects, recently came to a close but the effects of the scheme will be felt in the area for a long time to come.

Applicants for PESCA assistance ranged from individual fishermen to entire communities and the successful projects are bringing economic and cultural benefits.

Carradale fishermen, James Allan and John Galbraith and Iain Smith from Tarbert are among fifteen fishermen who are benefiting from PESCA grants for the installation of refrigeration units on their boats, improving the quality of the landed catch and giving them the opportunity for longer fishing trips.

Training initiatives were also given financial backing through PESCA with The Clyde Fishermen's Training Association being able to offer Kintyre and Islay fishermen training in the new Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

PESCA funding enabled research on intensive scallop cultivation to go ahead at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, and the Campbeltown and Kintyre Enterprise Trust (CAKE) were able to organise a fisheries conference for the area, covering all aspects of the industry.

As well helping the area's fishing industry directly, the very successful PESCA scheme benefited fishing communities. The South Kintyre Young People's Millennium Heritage Association staged a production at the Millennium Done in London depicting the history and development of the area and its fishing industry, with the aid of PESCA funding.

AIE Chief Executive Ken Abernethy said: "The PESCA programme has been able to assist so many people in the area. It has helped to strengthen local businesses and has improved the quality of life for fishing communities in Argyll and the Islands.

"The funds available have been used in an extremely diverse way, from direct assistance to fishermen and the fishing industry, to projects for children and the wider community."