EUSTICE – UK COMMITTED TO LEVELLING UP COASTAL COMMUNITIES

Eustice – UK committed to levelling up coastal communities. On Monday 27 December, the UK government announced a £75 million investment to modernise the UK fishing industry and level up coastal communities.

The financial boost that will serve to rejuvenate industry, increase capacity to land and process more fish, upskill fishers, support long-term sustainability and support job creation, will be delivered through two funding schemes forming the second and third parts of the £100m UK Seafood Fund.

£65 million will be made available for projects such as modernising ports and harbours alongside increasing capacity and efficiency at processing and aquaculture facilities. The Infrastructure pillar will also invest in the transition to renewable energy, prioritising projects which support long-term sustainability.

Up to £10 million will be used to encourage new entrants into the processing, catching and aquaculture sectors, alongside training and upskilling current workers.

A further £1m will be dedicated to promoting UK seafood, further details of which will be set out in 2022.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

“A year on from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, a positive picture is emerging for our fishing industry.

“Today, we are announcing a £65 million infrastructure scheme which will allow us to modernise ports and harbours and increase capacity and efficiency at processing facilities. A £10 million fund will encourage new entrants into the processing, catching and aquaculture sectors, and train and upskill those in the industry.

“We are committed to levelling up coastal communities across the UK, and this marks a period of rejuvenation for our fishing industry.”

The UK government also published its response to a consultation with industry on proposed changes, collectively known as the ‘economic link’, gaining coverage in titles such as the Times and the Express. The changes apply to UK vessels fishing against English quota and will come into effect from 1 April 2022.  This includes increasing the minimum percentage of UK crew members that must be on board vessels to 70% and increasing the amount of fish that must be landed in the UK to 70%.