Seafish is looking to reduce its standard rate of levy for the first time in over 14 years; a move it says will help reduce the “financial burden” of 90% of business in the seafood industry.
The levy reduction proposal of 10% aims to address the imbalance between the levy rates applied to most fish and shellfish and the lower rates that apply to cockles, mussels, whelks, pelagic fish, fish for fishmeal and imported fishmeal.
Paul Williams, chief executive, Seafish, said: “Having looked at a number of different options over the past few months, we believe we have arrived at the fairest and simplest solution to help reduce the financial burden on the vast majority of businesses that pay levy. It is, however, for the industry to decide.”
The proposed reduction could see sea fish (other than cockles or mussels or whelks or pelagic fish sold on a firsthand sale of pelagic fish trans-shipped within British fishery limits or sea fish sold for fishmeal production) drop from 0.9030p per kilogram to 0.8100p per kilogram.
Seafish says the reductions would also see its income drop from £8m per annum to around £7.2m.
The industry now has until 6 September 2013 to respond to the proposal. Seafish will then gather and analyse the feedback before publishing a response document and formal proposals in late 2013.
If the proposals are agreed upon, the new rate could be in place by April 2014.
