Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop was welcomed aboard at the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, where she saw for herself how it had been buoyed by a £67,000 makeover.
With Scottish Government funding, the popular East Neuk attraction made £60,000 of improvements to its premises at Harbourhead and carried out repairs to the historic herring drifter, the Reaper.
Ms Hyslop said: ”With more than 7,000 miles of coastline and blessed with a bountiful marine larder, Scotland has been a great seafaring nation for generations.
”Fishing is an integral part of our country’s rich heritage and the industry continues to play a vital role in our economy.
”The Scottish Fisheries Museum tells the story of fishing in Scotland through the ages.
”It houses a nationally recognised collection that includes historic boats, equipment, costumes and an extensive library and photo archive.
”We need to preserve this for future generations to learn about and enjoy.
”I’m delighted to see the improvements that this £60,000 award has enabled the museum to make.
”I’m confident this will significantly enhance the museum’s attractiveness to visitors.
”I am also pleased the Scottish Government has been able to contribute £7,000 towards repairing the floating vessel ‘Reaper’, a unique part of our nation’s heritage.”
The funding allowed the museum to carry out maintenance to the outside of the building, including painting and replacing roof tiles.
The fire alarm and heating system were also upgraded and energy-saving insulation and more environmentally friendly toilet facilities were installed.
Meanwhile, the Reaper was repaired after being damaged earlier this year.
The 110-year-old restored fishing vessel was hit by a piece of wood from a pontoon but is now seaworthy again after undergoing a refit at Mackay Boatbuilders in Arbroath.
Last weekend, the Reaper entertained visitors at Arbroath Seafest, before being brought back to Anstruther for the ministerial visit.
Scottish Fisheries Museum director Simon Hayhow said: ”It wasn’t a big bit of wood, but it did a lot of damage.
”She went to Mackay Boatbuilders, where she normally has her refit and they had to do some extra work.
”The grant allowed us to do important work to keep our iconic fishing boat ‘Reaper’ in the water and able to visit ports around the UK, such as the Arbroath Sea Festival at the weekend.
”What we tried to impress on the minister is just how significant Reaper is to Scotland.
”There are few survivors and it is important we keep her going.”
The importance of herring fishing to Scotland meant at one time there were many boats like the Reaper in use along the east coast.
Called ”Fifies”, they were introduced around the 1850s and were still in use well into the 20th century. Only three remain and the Reaper is the most faithfully preserved.
Mr Hayhow added: ”Scottish Government funding is vital to us in looking after the nationally recognised fishing heritage collection in Anstruther.
”As an independent trust and charity, it is costly to maintain a collection of more than 70,000 artefacts, including 19 wooden boats, of which two are sea-going.
”The museum is keen to develop its role across Scotland and the UK in providing access to the collections and in interpreting and displaying them for the public.
”We’re delighted to have the opportunity to show this work to the cabinet secretary and outline some of our ambitious plans.”