The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has criticised a government support package to protect English businesses from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that the ‘three-month scheme could not be described as generous’.
The government has announced £10 million in funds for the fishing sector which is capped at £10,000 per business. The scheme has met with broad support from the industry.
“This announcement is an important step towards closing gaps in the safety net put in place to protect the economy from the worst effects of the pandemic,” said the NFFO in a statement issued on 20 April.
“The grants to fishing vessels will go a considerable way to covering some of the mounting fixed costs faced by fishing businesses, at a time when lockdown has removed or seriously diminished markets for fish and shellfish. The scheme also brings belated parity with terrestrial businesses and with fishing fleets under the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales,” it continued.
However, concerns remain regarding some details of the scheme. “The three-month scheme could not be described as generous. It has been capped at £10,000 per business.
“As welcome as the announcement of this scheme has been, it is not without anomalies. Vessels over 24 metres have not been included, despite some also having been seriously impacted. This is particularly true of the scallop sector [and] parts of the whitefish fleet also remain exposed and without support,” it added.
