UK government launches fund for shellfish farmers

In January, the Government made available £23 million for seafood exporters who had suffered a financial loss because of delays related to the export of fresh or live fish and shellfish to the EU during January 2021. Having listened to concerns from fishing businesses across the UK, Defra will now be expanding the eligibility criteria to target catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses which have been affected by a reduction in demand from the hospitality sector in the UK and abroad, as well as disruption of exports to the EU. The scheme, which is similar to last year’s Fisheries Response Fund set up in response to the coronavirus pandemic, will open in early March and provide a grant payment to cover up to three months of average business fixed costs, incurred between January and March 2021. It will help catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses with costs such as insurance, equipment hire and port fees. Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Our fishermen are at the ...