The All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries group’s online Support for the Fisheries Sector attracted over 70 participants from all over the UK. MPs and high-level officials from across the fisheries sector met via webinar to discuss the support measures put in place to help UK seafood during the coronavirus pandemic.
Notable representatives from Seafish, the MMO, Marine Scotland, DAERA and the Welsh Government all gave presentations, briefing attendees on the support measures available across the UK and for individual countries. Sheryll Murray MP, Chair of the APPG, gave opening remarks, before handing over to David Duguid MP to chair the session.
‘Our focus in recent weeks has been to collaborate with industry to help keep the fabric of the seafood supply chain intact during the coronavirus crisis, so that when this situation passes the seafood sector will be able to recover,’ said Aoife Martin, Director of Operations at Seafish.
She noted that Seafish’s pandemic-responsive work has included advising on direct sales, collaborating on changes to product labelling, issuing critical working certificates and transforming their industry training programme to meet needs arising from the current crisis.
‘In Scotland, there are two hardship schemes covering over- and under-12m vessels, focusing mostly on the shellfish fleet, where the market impact has been the most severe. These funds allow businesses to meet their fixed costs and enable owners to keep their business afloat,’ said Allan Gibb, Head of Sea Fisheries at Marine Scotland, as he provided a Scottish perspective and advised members of the sector to find support by getting in touch with their affiliated association if they have one, their local Member of Scottish Parliament, or by finding further details on the Scottish Government website.
‘In Wales, the most immediate form of financial assistance is the Welsh Fisheries Grant, which aims to support full-time vessel-owning fishers with some of their fixed costs,’ said Mike Dowell, Deputy Director of the Welsh Government’s Marine and Fisheries Department. ‘There are also other various Welsh Government and UK Government support schemes that fishers may be eligible for.’
He commented that as well as online resources, industry bodies such as the Welsh Fishermen’s Association are also able to direct members to avenues of support.
‘The sea fish catching sector in Northern Ireland will benefit from £1.5 million to assist with vessel fixed costs under the Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) Scheme (NI) 2020,’ stated Paddy Campbell, who heads DAERA’s Sea Fisheries Policy and Grants division, spoke on behalf of Northern Ireland.
‘The industry can also take advantage of UK-wide schemes such as the Job Retention Scheme and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.’
MMO CEO Tom McCormack spoke about measures for the English industry, commenting that MMO is administering two funds: the Fisheries Response Fund for fishing and aquaculture businesses, and the Direct Seafood Supply Scheme to promote locally caught seafood.
‘The MMO has expanded its grants team and extended its opening hours to evenings and Saturdays to help advise on these grants,’ he said. ‘We are in regular contact with industry representatives to keep them up to speed with the help available.’
Speakers were in agreement that to support UK fishing, consumers should buy locally.
‘Take the time to buy locally caught seafood, either from your high-street fishmonger or via the range of direct delivery online platforms available,’ Aoife Martin said, adding that this could involve exploring less familiar species.
The event was recorded in its entirety and will soon be available on the APPG website. The next APPG event, which will focus on innovative responses to the pandemic, is scheduled for 4th June at 3pm, and will take place via Zoom.
Email the Secretariat at secretariat@fisheriesappg.org to register.
