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GRIMSBY fishing leaders have wholeheartedly welcomed the news that the European Fisheries Fund is to make a major grant towards the cost of upgrading the port's fish market.
Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, which owns and operates the market is to receive £605,000 towards the project which they intend to match fund.
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, said: "This is excellent news and it could not have come at a better time with the Norwegian seafood and fishing delegation in Grimsby this week. It means that I have something positive to tell them when they visit the market on Wednesday morning."
He said the upgrade would include installing suspended ceilings and air-locked doors and fitting cladding to help improve temperature control along with fundamental changes to the fish market operation."
Martyn added: The project will have to go out to tender but I hope we can start work later this summer. Because the fish market will have to remain open throughout, our biggest challenge is going to be working around everything while the improvements are being carried, but I am confident we will be able to deal with that."
Steve Norton, chief executive of the Grimsby Fish Merchants Association said he was delighted at the announcement. "It is long overdue, but it now means we can move forward and proceed with the modernisation plans. For various reasons supplies from Iceland have been lower recently, but this will help to restore confidence and it is this confidence that we shall be passing onto the Norwegian delegation this week.
The present Grimsby Fish Market opened in 1996 to replace the old Victorian pontoon. Apart from the variety of fish Grimsby's greatest strength is that it continues to be regarded as the price barometer for the fish throughout the country. Everyone who buys and sells fish in the UK uses Grimsby prices as their guide.
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