Matthew Harvey of Newlyn based shellfish merchants, W Harvey & Sons, has won an Objective 1 Fisheries Programme grant to process more Cornish and South Devon Crabs.

The grant of £16,500 will fund the installation of a steam boiler and building of a room to house it.

W Harvey & Sons are the oldest Shellfish Processors in Cornwall. The gas fired steam boiler will be used for crab cooking and ensure that a high quality of product is retained, There has been an increased demand for processed shellfish products over the past 10 years so the new boiler will enable the Company to meet demands from catering companies and wholesalers in the UK and Northern Europe and expand their market.

Matthew Harvey, a Partner of W Harvey & Sons said "We are delighted to have received this Objective 1 funding. We would like to thank Clare Leverton, Alison Elvey and the team at South West Pesca for their assistance in this project".

Alison Elvey, Objective 1 Fisheries Programme Manager stated, "This project will enable the company to expand and process more shellfish, thus adding value to Cornish landed crabs, which will benefit the industry as a whole. I am pleased that Objective 1 can help the fishing industry add value and expand in Cornwall"