Three north-east ports are poised land £17million of investment as part of a blueprint to transform their fortunes.
Aberdeenshire Council wants to modernise Banff Marina, expand the Macduff Marine Aquarium visitor attraction and make Fraserburgh a centre of seafood excellence.
Splashing the cash on dozens of projects could create and sustain an estimated 270 jobs – and launch more than 40 new businesses in the next five years.
At the heart of the masterplan is the desire to cement Fraserburgh as a centre for seafood excellence.
Last year, the town was rocked by news that fish processing giant Young’s Seafood was axing hundreds of jobs.
Now the council wants to promote the port’s produce as a brand around the world to boost the local economy.
The £2.1million plan includes hiring a team of chefs to design seafood recipes and creating a “seafood park” where fish processors could be based together.
The local authority is now trawling for private sector investment and European and government grant funding to make the long-awaited regeneration scheme a reality.
First proposed in 2014, Aberdeenshire’s “Four Towns” strategy to rescue the two Banffshire ports as well as Fraserburgh and neighbouring Peterhead has been a flagship policy of successive administrations.
The new masterplan report will be discussed by councillors when they meet in Fraserburgh on Tuesday.
Local authority regeneration tsar Christine Webster said: “The action plans represent a complex set of projects and initiatives, some well developed, some requiring research and refinement prior to delivery.
“It should be recognised that transformational change neither comes quickly nor in one clear action, but is long-term and made up of dozens of contributory actions and changes by many.”
Last night the council’s Banff and Buchan area committee chairman John Cox said the masterplan sent a “good message” to the local community.
“The key element is creating jobs, raising the wage economy and giving people the opportunity to start businesses.
“We have the best seafood but we have seen the shore sector losing out in terms of investment.
“We need a seafood park where companies can work together to showcase that not only do we have the best product, we have the best processing and can add value to that product.”
He added that the next step in the process would be presenting the action plan to the community.
Councillor Cox’s comments were echoed by Mary Melville, vice-chairwoman of Fraserburgh’s community council.
She said: “It’s excellent news – our seafood is so fresh. The sooner this happens, the better.
“The community council would welcome this idea as inspirational.
“We’d be happy to see it as soon as possible. It’s something this town has been crying out for, especially since we’ve been hit by what happened to Young’s.”
Another “big ticket” item in the plan is an expansion of Macduff’s aquarium at the cost of £1.1million.
Local councillor Mark Findlater welcomed the move.
He said: “Getting the vision and projects for regeneration together has been really positive.
“We’ve got 48,000 people a year coming to the aquarium and we need to develop that.
“We want people to come to Macduff and not just pass through it. This will make Macduff a destination.”
And Banffshire tourism expert Roger Goodyear added: “The aquarium really is one of the jewels in the crown of the north-east.
“It has wide family appeal and was voted one of the best aquariums in Britain. It’s small but well done.”
Mr Goodyear said he was aware of the action plan and that he “sincerely hopes” the area committee backs the scheme.
