EU funding of almost £1 million for marine related projects was announced yesterday by the Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett.

Additional State grants of £170,000 and private investment will bring total spending on the 38 projects to almost £2 million.

The projects, which are being funded under the EU PESCA Community Initiative, include activities from lobster and mussel cultivation to marine tourism schemes.

The biggest beneficiary will be Bord Iascaigh Mhara. The largest projects, however, involve the purchase of passenger vessels by marine interests in Cork and Galway.

The PESCA initiative is aimed at helping the fishing industry overcome difficulties caused by factors such as global fleet reductions and ongoing instability in the market. It focuses particularly on regions which are dependent on fisheries to support the local economy.

The biggest projects to benefit from yesterday's announcement are:

Michael Sullivan (Cork), for purchase of passenger vessel to provide cruises and sea angling. Total investment: £185,000 (EU grant £79,550, national grant £9,250).

John V. Heanue (Galway), for purchase of passenger vessel to provide access to Inishturk Island. Total investment: £158,163 (EU grant £68,010, national grant £7,908).

Bord Iascaigh Mhara, for fisheries training programme. Total investment: £140,000 (EU grant £105,000, national grant, £35,000).

Johnny King Enterprises (Galway), for purchase of passenger vessel for trips to local islands and sea angling. Total investment: £113,100 (EU grant £48,633, national grant £5,655).

William Kennedy (Kerry), for purchase of passenger vessel for diving/sea angling. Total investment: £92,300 (EU grant £39,689, national grant £4,615).

Oceans' Alive Ltd (Galway), for purchase of passenger vessel for sight seeing cruises. Total investment: £80,575 (EU grant £34,647, national grant £4,029).

John Dwan (Sligo), for construction of pontoon to allow docking at Rosses Point. Total investment: £80,000 (EU grant £34,400, national grant £4,000).