SCOTTISH SEAFOOD SCHEME LAUNCHES

Scottish Seafood Scheme Launches

Applications are now available for a new £6.45 million funding scheme for fishers and small aquaculture businesses impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU Exit.

The Seafood Producers Resilience Fund will provide support to eligible shellfish catchers and producers and trout farmers who have faced issues exporting to the EU and lost access to domestic food markets as a result of COVID-19.

Launched today (5 February) the fund is expected to benefit up to 1000 vessels landing shellfish such as crab, lobster, scallops, langoustines and squid, and up to 75 aquaculture businesses that produce shellfish and table trout.

Information on eligibility and separate applications for aquaculture and fishing vessels are available on the Scottish Government website.

Announcing the funding earlier this week Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“The fund for shellfish and trout businesses will help the sector survive the ongoing loss of domestic sales due to COVID-19 and the current immediate challenges of Brexit, giving them some breathing space and allowing businesses to make the changes they need to adapt to the new, tougher, trading realities.”

The fund was announced as part of £7.75 million package of support by Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing on 3 February.

Further information is available on the Marine Scotland section of the Scottish Government website.

For fishing vessel application queries contact seafoodproducerresiliencefund@gov.scot and for aquaculture queries contact aquacultureintervention@gov.scot.