Sussex fishermen were granted tens of thousands of pounds yesterday to help them compete with their counterparts in Europe.

Shoreham harbour was awarded £29,000 in matched funding and Newhaven Port £51,000 by the Government's Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA).

New pontoons will be built at Shoreham to give fishing boats secure berthing areas with electricity and fresh water supplies and storage for nets and pots.

The money will help the dozen or so locally based fishermen who use smaller, six to ten-metre boats rather than visiting vessels or yachts.

Harbour master Colin Crookshank said: "The idea is to help the local, smaller fishermen who, in some cases, are being squeezed out by the bigger players."

In Newhaven, where 12 fishing vessels of between eight and 12 metres are based, the money will be spent on a new landing and berthing quay.

MFA chief executive Nigel Gooding said: "This round of awards of public money will make a real difference to the industry in terms of sustainability and competitiveness.

"It represents a confidence and willingness to invest in the industry.

"There is a bright future for those willing to work at introducing innovative, marketorientated approaches to their businesses, wherever they are in the fish food chain."