The Government has announced
enhanced financial support for the seafood industry with cash
grants for seafood and aquaculture businesses across the
UK.
In January, the Government made available £23
million for seafood exporters that suffered a
financial loss because of delays related to the export of fresh
or live fish and shellfish to the EU during January 2021.
Having listened to concerns from fishing businesses across the
UK, Defra will now be expanding the eligibility criteria to
target catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses which have
been affected by a reduction in demand from the hospitality
sector in the UK and abroad, as well as disruption of exports to
the EU. These expanded criteria will mean more businesses can get
the support they need.
The scheme, which is similar to last year’s Fisheries Response
Fund set up in response to the coronavirus pandemic, will open in
early March and provide a grant payment to cover up to three
months of average business fixed costs incurred between January
and March
2021. It will help catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses
with costs such as such as insurance, equipment hire and port
fees.
Environment Secretary said:
“Our
fishermen are at the heart of many of our coastal communities and
we recognise the impact of coronavirus and the end of the
transition period on them. This expansion of our £23 million
support package will ensure many more businesses can benefit from
government support.
“The coronavirus pandemic has led to the
closure of critical markets, and this has been exacerbated by
issues faced by exporters at the border. We will continue to
ensure we are listening to our fishing and seafood industry as we
work to resolve these issues, and work with them to build up the
industry in the months and years ahead.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland,
said:
“Over the last few months, we have been
listening to the seafood industry and have continued to monitor
the impacts that the pandemic and export disruption has played on
prices, exports and the market.
“I am confident in the quality of Scottish
fish and seafood but for many fishing businesses the lack of
demand in the hospitality trade in the UK and further afield has
had a real impact on market prices.
“While we continue to take steps to beat this
virus and work with the sector to resolve export issues - this
expanded support scheme will help the many small and medium sized
fishing businesses that support so many of our coastal
communities.”
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:
“The fishing industry plays an important role in Northern Ireland
for its people and communities, supporting around 2,000
jobs.
“This expansion of the government's £23million
response fund will ensure that the fisheries and aquaculture
industry in Northern Ireland receives the financial and practical
support it needs."
Secretary of State for Wales said:
“The expansion of the Seafood Disruption Support Scheme
highlights the UK Government’s commitment to Welsh exporters who
are currently facing a uniquely challenging period.
“We want to back our fantastic Welsh businesses and I encourage
all who are eligible to apply for this support.”
The main features of the scheme are:
- For the UK catching sector, the fund will be open to under
40m vessel owners with fishing licences and who have a track
record of fishing in the winter months.
- The scheme will offer support to UK shellfish aquaculture
businesses, support will be provided on average ongoing costs
based on Full-time equivalent (FTE) employees per business.
Businesses who have received a grant under the recent Seafood
Producers Resilience Fund in Scotland will not be eligible for
the UK scheme.
- The Marine Management Organisation will administer the fund
across the UK on behalf of Defra, contacting eligible registered
owners and licence holders directly with details of how to apply,
starting in early March.
- A single payment will be made to cover a proportion of fixed
costs over a three-month period from January to March 2021.
The funding follows targeted support to
help exporters with new processes. This includes the Seafood
Exports Working Group, meeting twice a week to troubleshoot
issues raised by the industry; and a newly established
Scottish Seafood Exports Task
Force.
The UK fishing and seafood sector is also set to benefit from
significant government investment with a £100m fund to help
modernise fishing fleets, the fish processing industry, and
rejuvenate an historic and proud industry in the UK, on top of
the £32m that will replace EU funding this year.
The Government also continues to seek urgent resolution to export
issues, including the EU ban on the import of class B live
bivalve molluscs and will explore further ways producers can
continue to export this valuable seafood.
UK mussels and oysters are highly sought after, at home and
abroad. The sector has been highly impacted by Covid
restrictions, and now barriers to trade imposed by the EU.
There is also wider support from the Government to the sector
including the on-going Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan
Scheme, the furlough scheme and the recently launched SME
Brexit Support Fund to help businesses deal with
export requirements.
