It’s no secret that the UK fishing industry has been hit hard by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the fallout affecting businesses and crews. Now the Fishermen’s Mission and industry federations have responded with their own support initiative.
While there has been government support on a significant scale, this has a broad-brush approach and some fishermen inevitably drop through the cracks. An array of government, private, and charitable support agencies is in existence, to support those in the fishing sector who are facing genuine difficulty – but navigating these different agencies to find the right kind of support can be a daunting prospect.
Having identified an urgent need for a single point of contact to be established so that fishermen can be directed to the support appropriate to each individual case, the Fishermen’s Mission has agreed to operate a one-stop-shop for all matters relating to welfare and the wellbeing of both active and retired fishermen and their families.
‘We know that the Covid-19 virus and subsequent lockdown has stripped resilience out from many parts of our industry. The very least we can do is provide an adequate safety net for those who find themselves in difficulty. Having a single contact point will, we hope ease access to the support systems that are available,’ commented NFFO chief executive Barrie Deas.
According to a statement issued jointly by the Fishermen’s Mission, the SFF and the NFFO, the period of extreme emergency is slowly receding as lockdown measures are relaxed, although a risk of a second wave of infection remains. Markets are tentatively returning and others will take a long time to fully recover.
The three organisations state they they are aware of a collective responsibility to identify those at risk from the loss of their business and/or personal difficulties, to analyse the nature of the difficulties they are now facing, and to develop and provide adequate solutions that will help fishermen through this unprecedented and challenging time.
‘There have been those who have fallen through the gaps in the support measures. Whether this is because of personal circumstances, or the criteria used to frame the different support schemes, it is important that these people are not left behind,’ they state.
‘We anticipate that the next few months will be tough. There is both economic and financial uncertainty, as well as fear and concern about a second wave, should the pandemic return in force. In these difficult conditions, it is our collective intention to ensure fishermen and their families are guided to available sources of support where and when it is needed. If, in order for this to happen, we need to make further government intervention, we will not hesitate to make that case. Our intention, with this initiative, is to ensure as far as possible, that appropriate assistance is available to everyone who needs it and to ensure that we return to being the strong, resilient, industry we were before this crisis and that we can be again.’
‘This has been an extremely difficult time for many in our industry, and indeed continues to be so for some, as the recovery from the Covid lockdowns slowly takes shape. It is important that fishermen can readily access the help and advice that they need over the weeks and months ahead, and this initiative will help to do that,’ said SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald.
The Mission’s chief executive David Dickens commented that in its long history, the Fishermen’s Mission has rarely been so busy.
‘We have worked closely, for many years with the NFFO and SFF and it is vital that all fishermen understand that we are here to help with any issues that they may be facing,’ he said.
‘We have port staff covering the whole of the UK coastline and while currently we may all be working from home – we are still able to provide an extremely effective service. We welcome this initiative and statement as a declaration of our commitment to continue to support our fishermen and their families.’
The Fishermen’s Mission can be contacted on 0800 6341020 or 01489 566910, by e-mail at: enquiries@fishermensmission.org.uk, or via social media.
Alternatively, click the Get Help button on the Mission’s website.
‘It is our hope that the Fishermen’s Mission become the first point of contact for all fishermen when they need this kind of support and that this information is widely available to them,’ David Dickens said.
