This Scheme provides for the making of grants by the Scottish Ministers, in respect of the expenses of certain vessels engaged in sea fishing.

Applications for grant will be considered in respect of vessels meeting the requirements set out in paragraph 3 of the Scheme. These include a requirement that to be eligible a vessel must be a Scottish based vessel and be at least 10 metres in overall length. The Scottish Ministers may specify other eligibility criteria in a notice which requires to be published (paragraph 3).

The Scheme lays down a procedure for the making, consideration and approval of applications (paragraphs 4 to 6). The Scottish Ministers can determine conditions to which an approval is subject (paragraph 6(2) and (3)). The Scheme makes provision in relation to the rate and method of payment of grant (paragraphs 7 and 8).

Applicants are required, on request, to give assistance to authorised officers of the Scottish Ministers, who are given powers of entry and inspection for specified purposes (paragraphs 9 and 10), and provision is made for the reduction, withholding and recovery of grant in certain circumstances and for the payment of interest on grant recovered (paragraphs 11 and 12).

The Scheme amends the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2003 to provide that any grant to be paid in respect of a vessel under that Scheme will be reduced by the amount of any grant paid in respect of that vessel under this Scheme (paragraph 13).

This Scheme revokes the Sea Fishing (Transitional Support) (Scotland) Scheme 2003 which contained typographical errors (paragraph 14).

Section 17 of the Fisheries Act 1981 creates offences in respect of the production of false statements or documents in purported compliance with any requirement imposed by the Scheme and wilful refusal to supply information, make returns or produce documents when required to do so by or under the Scheme.