FISHERMEN and aquaculture buisnesses will receive direct cash grants through a fisheries support scheme announced today by the UK Government.

Up to £9m will be available in grants, and a further £1m will support projects which are assisting fishermen to sell their catch in their local communities. The money is intended to help fishing businesses find new ways to market and sell their catch while traditional markets are restricted, not only supporting the sector but also the local communities that depend on the industry.

Environment Secretary and Cornish MP George Eustice said the fund would be ’ a lifeline’ for smaller fishing businesses around the UK.

He said: ’We are continuing to work closely with the fishing and aquaculture industry to ensure that they are supported and can get back to their vital role of providing fish for the table, while contributing to the economy of many of our coastal communities.’

The majority of fish caught by the English fleet is usually destined for export. Hake, scallops and crab have been hit by the closure of traditional export markets and the reduction in demand from the hospitality sector, says the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

The support scheme – which will run for up to three months – takes action to meet the immediate needs of the industry by helping English fishing and aquaculture businesses with their fixed costs such as such as insurance, equipment hire and port costs.

The main features of the scheme are:

·       For the catching sector, the fund will be open to under-24m vessel owners with fishing licences registered in England who recorded sales of £10,000 or more in 2019.

·       Grants will be made to help cover fixed business costs. For the catching sector this will be calculated from the average business costs for the size of the vessel, as surveyed by the industry annually.

·         Details of the eligibility criteria, including the criteria for the aquaculture sector and support for local projects, will be announced in due course by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

·         The MMO will administer the fund, contacting eligible registered owners and licence holders directly in stages with details of how to apply, starting on Monday April 20 through to early May.

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