The Danish Fishermen’s Association PO (DFPO) has welcomed government initiatives for small and medium-sized businesses and has stated that it fully supports the government’s efforts to take Denmark through the crisis.
‘Coronavirus affects us all in the fisheries sector, both as individuals and as a food industry,’ said DFPO chairman Svend-Erik Andersen.
‘We all have a shared responsibility to help prevent and limit the spread of Coronavirus.’
As a heavily export-oriented industry, Danish fishing is affected by the Coronavirus crisis, with the measures necessary to limiting the outbreak in Denmark and across the EU having consequences in flattening demand for seafood from the restaurant trade.
Prices at auction have fallen and this could have further far-reaching consequences.
‘We all in the Danish fishing sector need to closely monitor developments at fish auctions and on our usual markets. Many fishermen are being squeezed financially as a result of the situation. We therefore welcome the latest government initiatives to help businesses, not least the latest initiatives in relation to SMEs,’ he said, commenting that proposals to put back VAT and tax payments will help the industry’s liquidity.
‘We need all measures that can mitigate the negative market effects of Coronavirus. These can help in the short term. Then, hopefully before too long, we can regain market stability,’ Svend-Erik Andersen said.
‘There is still a need for the high-quality, healthy fish that Danish fishermen bring ashore.’
