Parliamentary under-secretary of state, Angela Smith MP, has announced grant aid of £2.7m to a total of 36 organisations throughout Northern Ireland for the development of angling and other water-based recreation projects.

The awards have been made available under the EU's Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and Smith said she was delighted to announce the first tranche of funding under the programme which is designed to enhance the quality of fishing and facilities on Northern Ireland's inland waterways.

Applicants benefiting from the award range from the Erne & Melvin Enhancement Company (£274,517) to Flatfield Fly Fishing of Ballinamallard (£2,475) and include Armagh Fisheries, Clogher & District Angling Club, Fermanagh Lakeland Lodges, Lakeland Marine, Predator Boat Charters and the South Lough Neagh Regeneration Partnership.

Smith said she was particularly pleased that awards were made to many small organisations and groups of dedicated people at grass roots level.

The EU programme is administered by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - Inland Waterways and Fisheries Division, which has a total allocation of £4.8m. A call will be made in March/April for applications for funding under the second tranche of the scheme.

The funds are being used for two separate programmes - The Angling Development Programme and The Water Recreation Development Programme.

The first supports projects such as habitat improvement, improvement of fish passage, the provision of infrastructure at coarse and game fishing beats and the development of tourist amenities at private put and take fisheries.

The Water Recreation programme provides funding for projects including initiatives to promote increased or diversified use of waterways such as canoe and cycle trails and boat hire, the reopening of sections of abandoned waterways for recreational use, the provision and/or development of marinas and mooring/launch facilities and the provision of complementary land-based facilities such as access paths. Details: www.dcalni.gov.uk