 FISHING communities are being given the opportunity to bid for funding worth ?4.5 million.  The Scottish Government said 12 coastal councils can set up groups to consider applications and decide on projects, particularly those in tourism, food and drink, environmental protection and renewable energy.  The Highlands and islands will receive ?1.5m, while the rest of the country will get ?3m. Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:  By making our fishing communities more resilient and successful, we can encourage diversification beyond traditional fishing and create new employment opportunities.  He said the funding would also help to bring more  visitors to coastal areas.  The news came as provisional figures showed a 3% drop in the value of fish landings last year.  about 366,000 tonnes of fish, worth ?428m, were landed by Scottish vessels. The value of pelagic landings fell 18% to ?124m, shellfish rose 6% to ?152m and whitefish rose 2% to ?152m, the Government said.  Despite the overall drop, the total was higher than every year in the past decade except 2009.  The price of mackerel landed abroad fell 19% last year, but it remained the most valuable species to the Scottish fleet in 2010.  Mackerel is the subject of a row between the EU, Iceland and the Faroe Islands over quota sizes.  The number of fishermen employed on Scottish fishing vessels at the end of the year was 5218   a decrease of 4% on the previous year.  Mr Lochhead said:  These figures show an industry producing high yields in difficult times, but we must also remember that profitability remains fragile due to fuel prices and other running costs.  Bertie armstrong, of the Scottish Fishermen s Federation said:  The fish landing statistics have to be taken in the context of significantly increased operating costs for the fishing fleet ...which means many boats are  operating on the edge of economic viability.