The delayed report from the Conference on the Future of Inshore Fisheries has been published along with an outline of how the conference conclusions will be taken forward.
Further information is available on the Seafish website
Vessels and fishing operations vary enormously and this is an attempt to go beyond the generic Government guidance published over the last few weeks, to provide a check-list that will allow individual vessel operators tailor their sanitary measures to their own circumstances. We are hugely grateful to all of the vessel operators across the spectrum who have fed their advice and guidance into this exercise. We do not anticipate that this will be the final word on the subject but hope that it will provide a useful contribution, as more vessels go back to sea.
Social Distancing and the Fishing Industry
For further information go to our Coronavirus page
In terms of managing risk, fishing has some advantages – in particular, low levels of contact with the public. In some respects, fishing vessels can be considered as sealed workplaces. But fishing also presents some challenges – physical distancing in the confined spaces on fishing vessels being uppermost.
The wide variety of sizes, shapes and operations of fishing vessels do not lend themselves to one-size-fits-all guidance. The present government guidance contains useful practical suggestions and broad principles but is set at a very general level. Boats and ships aren’t mentioned specifically and outdoor working and working from vehicles provide the closest parallels.
At the same time, we know that parts of the industry have developed their own guidance on how to operate safely, within the context of continuing risk from the Covid virus and have ideas about how this guidance could be further developed to make it relevant and practical. Fishermen know their vessels and operations better than anyone so capturing and sharing that knowledge is an urgent priority. For that reason, the NFFO has instigated a telephone and online survey to quickly collect ideas from our members on good practice already in place or being developed. This will then be shared across the industry and will be used to inform government guidance through a Defra working group that has been established for that purpose.
The key to operating safely will be the risk assessment that each skipper/owner must undertake to ensure that his vessel is operating safely. Risk assessments are already well established but taking Covid-related risks into account is the new factor. What works for one vessel, won’t necessarily be the answer in another but the aim is to provide each skipper/owner with the options to find his own course.
Our hope is that by asking fishermen for their views we, collectively, will be able to produce a useful check-list that will help to inform each vessel operator what works in terms of providing Covid security for his vessel.
The telephone survey will of necessity be quick and will depend on sampling each vessel category. If you have any novel ideas on how a vessel can operate Covid safely please share that knowledge by emailing nffo@nffo.org.uk
The work has been led by JNCC, together with partners the Marine Management Organisation, Natural England, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and Bangor University supported with funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries fund (EMFF). A series of workshops over the last two years were facilitated by independent consultants CAG and brought together the fishing sector, regulators, scientific advisors and academic researchers to inform the new guidance, resulting in the MPA Fisheries Management Toolkit.
The toolkit aims to provide a resource for those involved in, and affected by, fisheries management decision-making and lays out the key elements to consider when establishing a participatory approach to management in MPAs. Using two existing MPAs in the Irish Sea and North Sea as case studies to explore the challenges of managing sedimentary habitats; the project has focussed on mechanisms for enabling the fishing sector to engage positively with the management process and bring their perspectives and knowledge to the table.
It has been designed as a guide to help regulators assess the suitability of establishing a participatory approach, including governance structure, stakeholder balance, management objectives, and logistics. Each section comes complete with a standalone summary poster that highlights key information to help ensure that users can take away the key messages.
The work also includes the development of the Benthic Impacts Tool, a management decision-making support tool, drawing on the latest scientific understanding on the impacts of mobile fishing gears on the seabed.
Nick Greenwood, Principal Marine Conservation Manager, Marine Conservation Team, Marine Management Organisation, said “the project has been a fantastic opportunity to share perspectives on how and why we all participate in MPA management, and has produced some great resources which will hopefully help decision makers and stakeholders make the most of opportunities to come together”
Dale Rodmell, Assistant Chief Executive, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation, said “the work has married together an evidence-based approach to MPA management with a more in-depth involvement of those affected by decision-making. Ultimately, we want to see management outcomes that are widely supported and accommodate sustainable marine livelihoods with meeting management objectives.”
Declan Tobin, Marine Management Team Leader, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, said “as we enter a new era for management of our marine space, this project provided the perfect platform to bring key interest groups together. It offered an opportunity for all to express their views and opinions on what matters most and how to ensure a fair and equitable approach to management into the future. The guidance and tools that have come out of this work have been shaped by the various needs and concerns of all involved which should result in a positive legacy in guiding the next phase in sustainable management of our seas”.
Prof Jan Hiddink, Professor in Marine Biology, Bangor University said “It has been great to be involved in a project that explored and appreciated the need for a quantitative approach for the assessment of human disturbance on the marine environment. The Benthic Impacts Tool has been developed for exploring the application of data during management of human activities with the hope of being applicable to a wide range of activities, habitats and species in the future.”
All resources from the project are available here.
Included in the grants that have been awarded to charity partners providing advice and support arising from the widespread impacts of the coronavirus are:
⦁ £250,000 to provide match funding with The Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust for innovative projects to support fish and seafood businesses, benefiting the fish-catching sector. The COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Programme guidelines are here
⦁ £200,000 to The Fishermen’s Mission to provide hardship welfare grants to fishers and their families, based on requests received via the Mission’s frontline staff – see here
⦁ £50,000 reserved for organisations working with fishers around the UK.
Seafarers UK’s Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Spencer said: ‘We are feeling very motivated by the scale of this Emergency Fund. It will provide hardship support through our long term charity partners, and our new work with The Fishmongers’ Company, which demonstrates our cause approach to helping fishers.’
‘We are supporting welfare and providing hardship grants, but also tackling the underlying causes of financial difficulty. We will help fishers keep fishing by creating new online routes to consumers. We are supporting fishers during the collapse of hospitality and export sales to create new supply chains to a previously untapped domestic market in the UK that we hope will endure beyond the COVID-19 crisis. Our ambition is for fishers to receive fair value for their fish while bringing wholesome food and a reasonable price to consumers too.’
Grants from Seafarers UK are offered to charities and other organisations providing services to fishers and their families. Applications should be made via email to grants@seafarers.uk. See grant funding guidance for applicants or phone 020 7932 0000 for more information.
Individual fishers seeking support should contact SAIL (Seafarers’ Advice and Information Line), a dedicated free Citizens Advice facility that receives an annual grant from Seafarers UK. Phone 0800 160 1842, email advice@sailine.org.uk or visit www.sailine.org.uk
No Surprise
On fisheries, there is no surprise that no progress has been made. The gap between the two sides is vast. The EU’s negotiating mandate is to retain the status quo on access rights and quota shares – and to hold the UK as close as possible to the provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy. The UK has indicated that it will act as an independent coastal state and has international law on its side. As the current arrangements under the CFP are asymmetric and to the UK’s massive disadvantage, there is zero prospect of UK agreement to the status quo.
EU Mandate
The EU mandate has been deliberately designed to give the Commission no room for negotiation or compromise. As no agreement is possible without movement from the EU side, a stalemate is inevitable. The EU has one club and it is the big one: withhold a free trade agreement unless the UK caves in on fisheries. It is a nuclear option and would carry a high risk of a no-deal outcome. No deal would:
1. Hurt the UK, but also with it inflict extensive collateral damage to the EU member states, many of whom have no stake in fisheries; some of which are heavily dependent on trade with the UK
2. On fisheries, it would hand the UK what it wants – the freedom to act as an independent coastal state with control over access who fishes in the UK exclusive economic zone, and annual fisheries negotiations.
Positions
The EU has published a draft legal text, reflecting something close to the status quo that it would like to use as the basis for negotiations.
The UK has yet to submit a legal text but has made clear that its objectives are:
⦁ An agreement which leaves intact the UK’s sovereignty to act as an independent coastal state – meaning regulatory autonomy over the fisheries within its exclusive economic zone like any other coastal state
⦁ Cooperation on the management of shared stocks
⦁ Annual fisheries agreements as the principal vehicle for managing shared stocks
⦁ Quota shares that more closely reflect a scientific assessment of the resources located in UK waters
⦁ Access for EU vessels to fish in UK waters (and UK vessels to fish in EU waters) where this is mutually beneficial
⦁ An exclusive 12mile zone to protect the UK’s inshore fisheries
If this list looks familiar, it may be because it is pretty close to the EU’s current fisheries agreement with Norway.
Two more rounds of negotiations are anticipated on, 11th May and 1st June. At that point progress will be assessed across all the UK/EU negotiations and a judgement will be taken on whether to carry on.
Summary
In summary, after two days of talks the major issues remain unresolved. There can probably be high-level agreement on a commitment to the principles of fishing sustainably and using science to inform management decisions, but unless there is movement on the EU side on the other issues, it is unlikely that an agreement will be reached in June, or even later this year. At present, the EU negotiating mandate does not allow for any flexibility, and so it looks like a no-deal is the most likely outcome. On fisheries, the UK will then prepare to enter the cycle of autumn negotiate with Norway, the EU, and the other countries with which it shares stocks, in the absence of a UK-EU framework fisheries agreement. This is not ideal, but it is better than the alternative: agreement to terms that would tie the UK back into a CFP type arrangement.
That would be politically unsellable in the UK.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has launched the government’s new £10 million Fisheries Response Fund for England’s fishing and aquaculture businesses.
From Monday 20 April 2020 eligible fishing vessel owners will be contacted directly, by email, in stages. Further information for Aquaculture businesses will be provided from next week.
The Fisheries Response Fund (FRF) will directly contribute towards the fixed business costs of over 1000 catching and aquaculture businesses that have been adversely impacted by the downturn of export and domestic markets for fish and shellfish.
For information on the fund criteria and eligibility, please see our guidance.
Tom McCormack, Chief Executive of the Marine Management Organisation, said:
“We’ve continued to stay closely engaged with the fishing industry and are very much aware of the difficulties many fishing businesses have been facing with the downturn in markets for fish and shellfish. We absolutely acknowledge the importance of our fishing industries and share concerns about these current impacts – it is our problem too.
The data we collect from the fishing industry has proved timely and incredibly valuable in helping to quickly evidence the current situation and to target where financial support is most needed.
We will be reviewing as we go, and will continue to engage with and listen to industry to ensure we’re supporting our fishing industry in the right ways.”
The seafood and fisheries sectors are encouraged to apply for the existing support available for businesses, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme.
The NFFO, the representative body for fishermen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a £10 million support package for fishing businesses in England.
It has released the following statement:
“This is a further important step towards shielding our crews and fleets economically, to ensure that they can remain intact and recover after the Covid-19 health emergency has passed. Along with the support for furloughed workers and self-employed share-fishermen, this announcement is an important step towards closing gaps in the safety-net put in place to protect the economy from the worst economic effects of the pandemic.
“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. It is a top-up/tie-up scheme which will allow those vessels that have been forced to tie-up to resume fishing as soon as it is judged that there are markets to sustain a return to fishing activities and to contribute to the nation’s food supply.
“The scheme also brings belated parity with terrestrial businesses (which can access small business grants of £10,000), and with fishing fleets under the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, which have already announced their own support measures.
“The announcement towards the end of last week came as a huge relief to many vessel operators who had begun to despair that the English fleets had been abandoned. In the end persistence paid off.
“The three-month scheme could not be described as generous. It has been capped at £10,000 per business. It has also been carefully calibrated to provide the minimum support necessary to keep fishing businesses of different sizes intact. As soon as markets recover, the scheme will end.
“As welcome as the announcement of this scheme has been, it is not without anomalies. Vessels over 24metres have not been included, despite some also having been seriously impacted. This is particularly true of the scallop sector, one of the fleets most severely affected by the collapse of export markets. Parts of the whitefish fleet also remain exposed and without support. The NFFO will continue to talk to government about providing coverage for the whole fleet and aspects of the scheme which, so far, lack clarity.
“Details of the scheme will be available shortly on the Marine Management Organisation website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fisheries-response-fund”
NFFO 20th April 2020
In the latest step to protect businesses affected by coronavirus, plans unveiled today mean that up to £9 million will be available for grants to eligible fishing and aquaculture businesses.
A further £1 million will be made available to support projects to assist fishermen to sell their catch in their local communities. This money will help fishing businesses find new ways to market and sell their catch while traditional markets are restricted, not only supporting the sector but also the local communities that depend on the industry.
Because the majority of fish they catch is usually destined for export, the English fishing fleet which catches fish stocks such as hake, scallops and crab, has been hit by the closure of traditional export markets and the reduction in demand from the hospitality sector.
The support scheme – which will run for up to three months – takes action to meet the immediate needs of the industry by helping English fishing and aquaculture businesses with their fixed costs such as such as insurance, equipment hire and port costs.
The measures will support English industry, in particular smaller fisherman, during this challenging time and follow an unprecedented package of financial support already announced for small businesses.
he main features of the scheme are:
For the catching sector, the fund will be open to under-24m vessel owners with fishing licences registered in England who recorded sales of £10,000 or more in 2019.
Grants will be made to help cover fixed business costs. For the catching sector this will be calculated from the average business costs for the size of the vessel, as surveyed by the industry annually.
Details of the eligibility criteria, including the criteria for the aquaculture sector and support for local projects, will be announced in due course by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
The MMO will administer the fund, contacting eligible registered owners and licence holders directly in stages with details of how to apply, starting on Monday April 20 through to early May.
Payments will be made for up to three months.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
“This £10 million scheme will provide a lifeline for more than 1,000 fishing businesses so they can continue to maintain and operate their boats during this challenging time, which has seen falling prices and lack of demand for fish from the restaurant industry.
“We are continuing to work closely with the fishing and aquaculture industry to ensure that they are supported and can get back to their vital role of providing fish for the table while contributing to the economy of many of our coastal communities.”
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay MP said:
“Fishing is at the heart of many of England’s coastal communities – providing local jobs as well as valued produce to their communities and through exports around the world.
“Given the loss of trade particularly to restaurants as a result of Covid-19, this support will help fishing businesses weather the current challenges they face, and facilitate new growth in retail markets through innovative local distribution.”
Tom McCormack, Chief Executive of the Marine Management Organisation, said:
“We’ve continued to stay closely engaged with the fishing industry and are very much aware of the difficulties many fishing businesses have been facing with the downturn in markets for fish and shellfish. We absolutely acknowledge the importance of our fishing industries and share concerns about these current impacts – it is our problem too.
“The data we collect from the fishing industry has proved timely and incredibly valuable in helping to quickly evidence the current situation and to target where financial support is most needed.
“We will be reviewing as we go, and will continue to engage with and listen to industry to ensure we’re supporting our fishing industry in the right ways.”
The seafood and fisheries sectors are encouraged to apply for the existing support available for businesses, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme.
The government has been working closely with the fishing industry to support the industry through this challenging period. Together with national fisheries authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the Government is also exploring methods to reduce the regulatory burden on the fishing fleet. These measures will be agreed jointly by the fisheries administrations and announced in due course.
It has taken time and perseverance to make it understood within the Treasury that fishing businesses had fallen through the gaps in the otherwise massive package of support for the economy. Initially, the Treasury were resistant to a sector specific approach, but this became politically untenable after Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales announced their own fishing industry support schemes and pressure built in coastal constituencies.
The bare bones of the English scheme are as follows:
- Financial support to help cover the average fixed costs of the English fleet
- The scheme is worth £10 million
- The scheme will last for three months
- Fixed monthly amounts will be paid by the MMO on a push basis to those considered eligible (no application will be required)
- Maximum cap of £10k per vessel (comparable with the small business grants scheme)
- Within the £10 million is support for aquaculture and to encourage small coastal projects aimed at increasing domestic consumption
- Catches of a minimum of £10K in the previous year will be required to establish eligibility
- Banding:
- 0-6m £600 per month
- 6-8m £800
- 8-10m £2100
- 10-12m £4200
- 12-15m £7800
- 15-24m £13,700 (capped at £10K)
- Bandings are based on Seafish costs and earnings survey
- The scheme is a top-up rather than a tie-up scheme and vessels will not be hampered from fishing and selling their catch where this is a viable option
It is inconceivable that English fishermen alone will be abandoned in this crisis and so we will maintain the political pressure until there is a change of mind. It is politically unsustainable to allow fishing businesses to fail, whilst over the border the devolved administrations show solidarity with their fishing fleets.
As the economic consequences of the coronavirus and emergency measures to contain it roll on, the resilience of fishing businesses across the UK will vary considerably.
Some will be exposed at the bank more than others. Some will have been impacted by the endless winter storms more than others. Some have seen their markets disappear overnight and have tied up. Others can continue to operate, albeit in a fragile market, barely covering costs.
Despite these differences, one factor more than any other will determine whether they will survive this crisis and go on to thrive once again, providing food, employment and taxes for the nation. That factor is the degree to which they have access to financial support.
Many crewmen, though not all, will receive temporary support through the government support for the self-employed or furlough arrangements. At the top and bottom, some self-employed fishermen will lose out because of the criteria used and because of the way their earnings have been recorded in the past. And June, when the support payments will be made is a long way off.
But fishing businesses are uniquely exposed in this crisis: primary producers who cannot access the grants that have been made available to businesses in the restaurant and hospitality trade at the other end of the supply chain.
Irrespective of the scale of operation, beach-launched punt, or considerable fishing business, fishing vessels face fixed costs which continue to build, with no or low income to cover them. Very few fishing businesses can take advantage of the £10,000 business grants that have been made available because fishing vessels don’t pay rates and this has been made the defining criteria.
Loans, even with preferential conditions, are too weighted with risk in these uncertain times.
Impending Crisis
The impending crisis which this represents has been understood in Scotland and Northern Ireland and Wales. It has also been understood in Whitehall. The difference is that in the devolved administrations, have rapidly put in place a support package that will help these busnesses to stay afloat financially.
We know that Defra and the MMO understand the seriousness of the current situation because we have had almost daily conversations with senior officials and ministers. We also know that a support package for the English fleets has been submitted to the Treasury with a raft of statistics which demonstrate the seriousness of the situation.
Perhaps the lack of a response is inertia at the top because of the ravages of the virus. Perhaps it is work overload in the Treasury. Perhaps it is fear of setting a precedent. Perhaps it is a bit of all three.
The absence of a tailored package of support for the English fleets, parallel to those that have been made available in the devolved administrations raises profound questions:
- Are English fishing businesses valued less than in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
- Does the nation value its fishermen and the contribution to food security that it makes?
- Will there be fishing businesses left for crews to return to, once the crisis is over?
- The government and politicians have been willing to use fishing as the poster-boy for Brexit – will they stand aside and let those businesses fail?
- Has the fact that only England has no dedicated fishing minister to champion its cause harmed our interests?
Summary
Our case has been laid out clearly. Without access to financial support, fishing businesses will fail. Fishing businesses fall between the gaps in the otherwise generous financial support measures already announced. On fishing, devolution has led to an uneven approach across the country. We now await the Government’s response but will not be sitting on our hands. The Federation will continue to maximise political pressure – because the consequences – economically, socially and politically – of a failure to intervene allows us no alternative.
To support the seafood supply chain in the face of widespread COVID-19 disruption, the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fish on Friday website is introducing two, exciting, rapid response initiatives.
COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAMME (RRGP)
The RRGP programme is for fishing and seafood businesses and food charities looking to:
• Diversify due to COVID-19
• Promote the consumption or sale of local seafood
• Provide community meals using seafood
With matched-funding from Seafarers UK, the UK’s largest maritime charity, the fund now contains £500,000 to support the industry. For more information and to apply, visit fishonfriday.org.uk/grants.
INTERACTIVE SEAFOOD RETAIL MAP
Support local businesses and source local, safe, healthy sustainable food. Find out where you can order local seafood on this new interactive map.
Can’t find a seafood supplier near you? Nominate your local fish merchant or check back soon, as more are joining daily.
Are you selling seafood? To get your business or your members’ businesses listed on the Fish on Friday site, please send the business name(s), a description of the service on offer (delivery/collection, food boxes etc), address, phone number, email address and website to info@fishonfriday.org.uk
Bill was a conservationist, who saw that selective gear and limiting fishing pressure to safe levels safeguarded the future and provided greater returns in the long run. “You have to let the young fish escape.”
He was a major figure on the NFFO’s Executive Committee and the NFFO South West Committee. One of his consistent arguments was that the UK’s quota shares under the EU Relative Stability formula were grossly unfair. It is sad that he didn’t get to see those shares amended before he died, although the UK’s departure from the EU represents a significant step in that direction.
Always a strong voice for fishermen working together for common purpose, he held positions as Chairman of Looe Fishermen’s Protection Society, and on the NFFO Executive Committee.
He remained an active fishermen well into his 80s. Here
The NFFO Executive Committee salute the passing of a good fishermen and good friend.
The announcement on support for the self-employed will be of help to crew engaged as share-fishermen but there is nothing for fishing businesses which face significant ongoing fixed costs but have no, or greatly reduced, income to cover those outlays. There is a real danger that many will not be able to keep their heads above water until this health emergency passes.
Small businesses in the hospitality sector have been given access to grants up to £10,000 but for the most part, fishing vessels, who in many cases supply those restaurants are not eligible for these grants as eligibility is related to paying business rates.
“There is a clear gap in the safety-net provisions and fishing businesses are being allowed to fall through it. This has been well understood within Defra and the MMO. The point has been made repeatedly during several conference calls that have taken the place of face-to-face meetings. Landing statistics, market activity and price information all confirm that scale of the collapse in markets caused by lockdown measures.”
The administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland, have already announced support packages and we expect a scheme for fishermen in Wales to be announced soon. Unless we hear from the Treasury soon, we will be forced to the conclusion that fishermen outside the devolved administrations count for less than their colleagues over the border. This cannot be allowed to stand.
As a supporter of the UK fishing industry, please find enclosed a briefing from the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) calling on you to urgently support the NFFO’s campaign for a bespoke fisheries support package to support the fishing industry and coastal communities in England during the current COVID-19 emergency.
CURRENT GOVERNMENT COVID-19 RESPONSE TO UK FISHING INDUSTRY
There is virtually a complete cessation of fishing in some areas of the country and the whole industry is struggling with reduced demand and logistical challenges.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak has said he will do “whatever it takes” to support businesses and workers through the current COVID-19 crisis. However, despite the unprecedented support packages made available, these do not significantly help English fisheries and as a result, many businesses and jobs are at risk.
Very few fisherman are paid through PAYE so cannot access ‘furlough’ financial support, fishing businesses do not qualify for small business grants. Other measures such as reduction in business rates, which help most businesses, do not help fishing as our boats are subject to harbour fees, which continue, rather than rates. There are also other fixed costs, such as insurance and equipment rentals which remain under contract and continue to rise.
Bespoke packages of support have been provided in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we understand that an announcement of support in Wales is imminent. The NFFO is deeply concerned about the lack of bespoke Government support available for the English fishing industry.
This briefing focuses on the need for a package of support in England, what our asks are, and how we would like you to help as an interested and supportive parliamentarian.
NFFO’S MAIN ASKS
Urgent action must be taken in order to support English fisheries. The NFFO would like MPs and Peers to call for:
• A bespoke fishing industry support scheme to ensure fishing businesses and coastal communities across the UK survive the COVID-19 crisis.
• A support scheme in England that is parallel to the bespoke packages in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
• Support from the Government which will allow the industry to be in a strong position as we become an independent coastal state at the end of the Withdrawal Agreement transition period on the 31 December.
• A clear signal from the UK Government that the fishing industry is valued and financial support will be granted.
KEY MESSAGES
SECURING A BESPOKE FISHING INDUSTRY SUPPORT SCHEME
• In this unprecedented period of social and economic uncertainty, fishermen, many of whom are self-employed, will be feeling the pressures of having to cut costs to make ends meet. The Government has not delivered support that significantly helps the industry and many are now in urgent need of financial provision to support them through this difficult period.
• Direct support is, rightly, being given to the hospitality and restaurant sector as they have been closed down during this health emergency. However, there is a clear gap in support for those whose businesses, like those in the fishing industry, who supply those restaurants.
• Apart from a few local landings, the shellfish market has evaporated, restaurants and fish and chip shops have largely closed, some supermarkets have closed their fish counters, and many export markets have collapsed. Some innovative ways to sell fish to the doorstep are under way but we are under no illusion that these initiatives cannot replace the mainstream supply chains.
SECURING A SUPPORT SCHEME THAT IS PARALLEL TO SUPPORT PACKAGES ANNOUNCED IN THE REST OF THE UK
• The Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Isle of Man Government have already announced financial support packages for their respective fishing industries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Scottish Government announced a £5 million Sea Fisheries Intervention Fund for its seafood industry. An initial payment of 50% of two months’ average earnings will be made to owners of all full time Scottish registered fishing vessels of 12 metres lengths and under. These initial payments will be capped at a maximum of £27,000. The Scottish Government has also said that support is being developed for the onshore processing industry and the shellfish growing industry.
• The Northern Irish Executive has also announced a £1.5 million support package for its fishing industry, and the Isle of Man Government announced more than £370,000 for its own fleet.
• The UK Government must now announce parallel support for fishing businesses and coastal communities in England who are being squeezed by mounting fixed costs and collapsed demand, due to COVID-19, and who cannot access other business support mechanisms.
SECURING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AHEAD OF BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT COASTAL STATE
• There is a very real risk that at a point when the UK fishing industry can see on the near horizon a great opportunity for our fishing industry as we become an independent coastal state, that we could lose fishing businesses and fishers due to the short term COVID-19 challenges.
• Brexit presents a unique opportunity for the UK fishing industry to control access to UK waters, ensure UK fishermen get a fair deal on quotas, revive coastal communities and grow the UK’s industry’s role as world leaders in sustainable fisheries management. The short-term challenges of COVID-19 cannot be allowed to erode these promised and prized opportunities.
SECURING A CLEAR SIGNAL FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT THAT THE FISHING INDUSTRY IS VALUED
• The Chancellor gave a commitment that the Government will “do what it takes” to support businesses and workers. The fishing industry, the iconic industry which speaks to the UK’s identity as an island nation, must receive support.
• The NFFO has been making the case directly to the Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and we are in no doubt that it is well understood and accords with government data gathered on landings, costs, earnings and prices.
• Vessel owners need know that the sector will be supported by Government so it can survive this crisis.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE NFFO
• Write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to call for an urgent support package for England and Wales fisheries
• Agree to a one-to-one briefing phone call with the NFFO’s Chief Executive, Barrie Deas
• Call on Treasury officials to take urgent action to draw up plans for a bespoke support package for the fishing industry in England and Wales.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT NFFO@CONNECTPA.CO.UK.
“This is now urgent”, said Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations. “The Chancellor has said that it will do what it takes to support businesses and workers through this crisis, and it is true that the level of support is unprecedented. Our problem is that our industry is unique in its structure and organisation. The broad-brush approach leaves many fishing enterprises at risk of business failure.”
“We need a bespoke fishing industry support scheme that will allow us to keep our heads above water until this crisis subsides. Without that support to cover ongoing fixed costs, there is a real danger that businesses of all sizes could go under.”
“We have made the case to Defra and believe that it has been well understood and accords with the government data gathered on landings, costs, earnings and prices. What we need is now is a decision and an announcement.”
“Our longstanding fear is that when it comes to a crisis like this, there is no voice at ministerial level making the case for the English industry. The UK ministerial role means that we do not have the clout when push comes to shove. I very much hope that I am wrong about this. The final decision will lie with the Treasury but the future without bridging support is stark indeed.”
“Direct support is being given to the hospitality and restaurant sector, quite rightly as they have been closed down during this health emergency. But there is a clear gap in the support for those who supply those restaurants.”
“Apart from a few local landings, the shellfish market has evaporated. Restaurants have closed. Fish and Chip shops have largely closed. Some supermarkets have closed their fish counters. Many export markets have collapsed. Some innovative ways to sell fish to the doorstep are under way but we are under no illusion that these initiatives cannot replace the mainstream supply chains.
The Federation is mounting a strenuous campaign. Further details will follow.
Mail is being held up in the Royal Mail sorting office as a result of the virus. As a result, the Environment Agency has notified us that the deadline for the return of offer acceptance letters will be extended until the coronavirus situation is resolved. The EA Newcastle office is in “lockdown” hence at the moment no letters can be sent to the licence holders.
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Fishermen perceive interactions between seals and fisheries as an increasing problem in recent years, with seals taking catches out of nets and damaging gear. Over ninety fishermen responded to a survey about their experiences with seals, and a review of available deterrents found that there were limited commercially available non-lethal options for use in fisheries.
Trials were carried out using a prototype of the targeted acoustic startle device (ASD) developed by Genuswave, which triggers a startle response that causes a seal to move away from the sound. It operates at a much lower sound dose (volume and duration) than other acoustic deterrents and a frequency range where seals’ hearing is more sensitive than other species. The ASD has no adverse impact on marine mammals such as dolphins and porpoises, and should be more effective in the long-term at deterring seals compared with other deterrent devices.
Two inshore vessels (one from Torquay and the other from Brixham) were involved in the trials, each deploying two nets at a time — one net fishing as normal (the ‘control’), and one net with one or more ASDs deployed nearby (the ‘test’ net). Catches from each net were recorded, as well as the number of damaged fish in each net.
The trials found that:
- The ASD increased the catch by an average of 74% compared to the net without
the ASD; and - Due to technical difficulties deploying the prototype ASD at sea, there was a
high variability in catches and the effectiveness of the ASD, with the modelled
increase in catch ranging from 5% to 189%.
Suzannah Walmsley, the project manager from ABPmer, said ‘although the trials experienced technical difficulties with deploying the prototype ASD at sea, overall the results show promise for it to be an effective seal deterrent. This has already led the ASD developer to make the units more robust and to explore alternative ways of deploying the devices at sea. Additional work and testing is needed in other locations and fisheries before conclusive results can be drawn.’ The project was funded through the European Maritime Fisheries Fund and implemented by ABPmer in collaboration with the NFFO and the trials benefited from support from the fishermen and the Devon & Severn IFCA.
Published 26 March 2020
From:
HM Revenue & Customs
This scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed.
Who can apply
You can apply if you’re a self-employed individual or a member of a partnership and you:
• have submitted your Income Tax Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19
• traded in the tax year 2019-20
• are trading when you apply, or would be except for COVID-19
• intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21
• have lost trading/partnership trading profits due to COVID-19
Your self-employed trading profits must also be less than £50,000 and more than half of your income come from self-employment. This is determined by at least one of the following conditions being true:
• having trading profits/partnership trading profits in 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your total taxable income
• having average trading profits in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your average taxable income in the same period
If you started trading between 2016-19, HMRC will only use those years for which you filed a Self-Assessment tax return.
If you have not submitted your Income Tax Self-Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19, you must do this by 23 April 2020.
HMRC will use data on 2018-19 returns already submitted to identify those eligible and will risk assess any late returns filed before the 23 April 2020 deadline in the usual way.
How much you’ll get
You’ll get a taxable grant which will be 80% of the average profits from the tax years (where applicable):
• 2016 to 2017
• 2017 to 2018
• 2018 to 2019
To work out the average HMRC will add together the total trading profit for the 3 tax years (where applicable) then divide by 3 (where applicable), and use this to calculate a monthly amount.
It will be up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 months.
We’ll pay the grant directly into your bank account, in one instalment.
How to apply
You cannot apply for this scheme yet.
HMRC will contact you if you are eligible for the scheme and invite you to apply online.
Individuals do not need to contact HMRC now and doing so will only delay the urgent work being undertaken to introduce the scheme.
You will access this scheme only through GOV.UK. If someone texts, calls or emails claiming to be from HMRC, saying that you can claim financial help or are owed a tax refund, and asks you to click on a link or to give information such as your name, credit card or bank details, it is a scam.
After you’ve applied
Once HMRC has received your claim and you are eligible for the grant, we will contact you to tell you how much you will get and the payment details.
If you claim tax credits you’ll need to include the grant in your claim as income.
The fishing sector has its unique contours, which means that generalised support measures only fit where they touch.
Grants that are available to businesses closed down in hospitality sector, do not extend to the boats that are equally affected downstream, as markets for fish and shellfish disappear
Many self-employed share fishermen will be supported by the measures announced for the self-employed, but a considerable number at the bottom and top of the range will lose out because of the way that their past earnings have been recorded – and July, when the funds become available, is a long way away
There is a desperate need for clear guidance and support in making applications
COVID 19 – UK GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS
CJRS (Coronavirus Job Retention scheme)
80% wage paid to furlough workers up to value of £2,500 p.m. until end May, possibly longer.
Covid 19 Corporate Finance facility
Designed to provide financial assistance on short term liabilities for large companies.
Assistance for Self Employed
Provides 80% of average salary up to £2.5kpm for Tax registered self-employed. Payments unlikely before June.
Coronavirus Business Interruption loan scheme
Designed to provide access to bank loans, Government underwriting 80% . Available to small and medium size businesses only.
UK Export Finance (UKEF)
Tools include Export Working Capital Scheme, Export Insurance and Direct Lending Facility.
£20bn Government grants
Grants restricted to SMEs and to larger companies in most vulnerable sectors (hospitality, retail and leisure).
1 year 100% rate relief
Applies only to hospitality, retail and leisure properties.
HMRC -time to pay scheme
Allows deferment of tax payments. Agreed on case by case basis.
Bank of England reduced interest rate
Bank rate now set at 0.1%
Potential to reduce interest on liabilities.
Vat deferral from 20 March to 30 June 2020
Business will not be required to make VAT payments during this period.
Extension of time to file reports
3 month extension to deadline for filing of company reports.
3-month Mortgage/ Rent holiday, including commercial properties
Temporary benefit to workers/companies.
Classification of food sector workers as “key” sector
Key workers school aged children will have continued access to schools.
Statutory Sick Pay relief allowing SMEs to reclaim sick pay payments to staff
Applicable only to SMEs.
Increase in Working Tax Credit allowance
Workers currently able to claim working tax credit will see weekly increase of around £20 per week.
Fishing Businesses
But the biggest and most obvious gap in support is for fishing businesses of all sizes who face ongoing costs – harbour dues, insurance costs, equipment rentals etc. with no, or dramatically reduced earnings to cover them. There is a real risk of business failure, threatening the aim of keeping fishing businesses intact, so that they can recover and rebuild when this crisis is over.
In our twice weekly (online) meetings with Defra ministers and officials, the NFFO has been pressing the case for a bespoke scheme to fill this gap. It is our understanding that work is under way on the design of a support package by weighing options for different types of scheme and assessing where other support measures fall short. Treasury approval will be required but the Chancellor’s commitment to do what it takes, gives hope that support for what is regarded as a unique and iconic sector will be forthcoming.
We have argued for a twin track approach:
- Tie-up aid for those vessels where their markets have completely disappeared, or where continuing to operate wouldn’t cover costs
- Top-up aid, for those vessels where there is a continuing, albeit depleted, market to ensure that operations and supply chains can continue
The UK has left the EU but has paid into the EU budgets for 2020 and is subject to all EU rules until the end of December. Close attention is being payed, therefore, to moves in Brussels to change the state aid rules to allow temporary cessation aid in the current extreme circumstances.
Regulatory Easement and Other Support Measures
Towards the end of last week Defra circulated a long list of potential additional measures which had been suggested to the department. These ranged from the vital, relevant and workable to the opportunistic and potentially harmful. Over two conference calls involving NFFO representatives from all sectors and parts of the coast, and numerous emails across the weekend, the Federation put together a response which separated the wheat from the chaff and was submitted to Defra by the deadline on Monday.
Above all, the Federation argued for a robust procedure to ensure that those measure adopted are the ones that do good, rather than harm. A simple filter is required to quickly but thoroughly assess each proposal:
1. Is the measure justified by evidence and proportionate?
2. What would the effects be, including effects on markets?
3. Who would be positively and negatively affected?
4. Will the medium and longer-term impacts outweigh any short-term benefits?
Summary
As the current health emergency continues, the NFFO along with other representative bodies in the industry, are pressing for an aid package that would fill the gaps in the Government’s current support measures. The most obvious of these is support for fishing businesses to allow then to recover when markets recovers. A list of other “regulatory easement” measures is being assessed to identify those that would provide maximum benefit.
Business Support and Support for Wage Earners
Although extremely welcome in many businesses, including some in the fishing sector, the Government’s package of grants, loans and support for workers who are on the PAYE system, is of limited relevance to the many fishermen who are self-employed share fishers, with no guaranteed wage, but reliant instead on a share of the earnings of each trip.
That is why the industry waited anxiously on Thursday evening (26th March) for the Chancellor’s announcement of financial support measures for the self-employed.
Package for the Self-Employed
- The self-employed will be able to apply for a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits over the last 3 years, up to £2500 a month.
- This scheme will be open for three months but can be extended “if necessary”.
- The scheme will be open to anyone with trading profits up to £50,000, available to anyone who makes the majority of their income from self-employment, and only open to people with a self-assessment tax return in 2019.
- The scheme will be up and running by the beginning of June. The Government will look to get it set up faster but cannot make any promises.
- To make sure no one misses out, the Government has decided to allow anyone who missed the filling deadline in January, four weeks from today to submit their tax return.
- The first payment will come in June, but the payment will be backdated to capture payments for March, April and May. To assist people with the late payment, the Government also said that income tax payments due in July can also be deferred to the end of January 2021
- Unlike the employee scheme, the self-employed can continue to work as they receive support.
Our first impression is that the furlough arrangements for waged employees, and parallel support for the self-employed have together the capacity to bring relief to many working in the sector, including many self-employed share- fishermen. June is however a long time to wait and there will certainly be cases of hardship. There will be some, possibly many, who fall through the gaps at the bottom and the top because of the way past earnings have been recorded. Universal credit is the only safety net for these fishermen.
The urgency with which these packages have been constructed mean that detailed guidance is not yet available and there will be many who remain unclear about their individual situations. Providing that guidance and dealing with anomalies and confusions is a priority.
Fishing Businesses
The one remaining, very visible, gap in the Government’s support package is for the many vessel operators who have continuing fixed costs during the health emergency but have seen their earnings collapse completely or considerably as demand has fallen away.
Support is urgently required for these businesses, who have seen their markets dramatically contract, or disappear completely, as restaurants, fish and chip shops, supermarket counters have closed, and many export markets have faced difficulties.
The Government has provided grants of £10,000 to £25,000 to business affected by enforced closures in the hospitality and restaurant sector. In many cases this is the market supplied by fishing vessels who are equally impacted but do not receive the assistance provided for the customer facing part of the trade.
We believe that the Government shares the industry’s goal of keeping fishing businesses and the entire supply chain intact, so that they can recover rapidly once the health measures and movement restrictions can be relaxed. To achieve this, direct support for fishing vessels who face harbour dues, equipment rentals, etc. will be essential.
There are different ways to deliver this support and we understand that conversations are underway within government. Clearly Treasury approval will be required.
We believe that the Chancellor understands that fishing is a unique sector, which often does not fit the standard models of economic activity. The Government also understands very well that fishing is a totemic sector.
Where markets have not completely collapsed, vessels and supply chains should be supported to maintain operation to contribute to the food security of the nation. This will only be possible if earnings are at a level that can cover costs. Where markets have dried completely, vessels must be supported to cover ongoing business costs so that they are in a fit state to start fishing and trading when recovery arrives.
What is less clear, at least at this stage, is the extent to which the support measures hit their target so far as self-employed share-fishermen are concerned. Measures developed at speed often have flaws and limitations which become evident as they are implemented.
Package for the Self-Employed
In summary, the Government has undertaken to:
- The self-employed will be able to apply for a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits over the last 3 years, up to £2500 a month.
- This scheme will be open for three months but can be extended “if necessary”.
- The scheme will be open to anyone with trading profits up to £50,000, available to anyone who makes the majority of their income from self-employment, and only open to people with a self-assessment tax return in 2019.
- 95% of self-employed people will benefit from the scheme. The 5% who are not covered are the wealthiest self-employed people who earn an average of £200,000.
- The scheme will be up and running by the beginning of June. The Government will look to get it set up faster but cannot make any promises.
- To make sure no one misses out, the Government has decided to allow anyone who missed the filling deadline in January, four weeks from today to submit their tax return.
- The first payment will come in June but the payment will be backdated to capture payments for March, April and May. To assist people with the late payment, the Government also said that income tax payments due in July can also be deferred to the end of January 2021
- Unlike the employee scheme, the self-employed can continue to work as they receive support.
NFFO/UKAFPO
Against this background, NFFO and UKAFPO, representing the bulk of the fishing industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
- Share the Government’s goal of keeping businesses in the sector intact, so that they can survive and thrive after the pandemic is over
- Acknowledge the scale and ambition of the financial support measures announced to date
- Appreciate that the Government recognises fishing as a unique, important, and politically totemic sector, with a critical role in the food security of the nation
- Believe that the measures to support the self-employed will be welcomed with relief by many share-fishermen
- Reserve judgment on the extent to which the measures provide an adequate fit with the unique contours of the fishing industry
- Commit to working with Government on refining, and where necessary supplementing the package announced so far
Regulatory Easement and Other Support Measures
In addition to direct financial support, the Government is working urgently on a range of other steps that can be taken to support the fishing industry through this profound economic shock.
A long list of potential interventions has been made from suggestions submitted and provisionally ranked in terms of viability. A working group, involving key industry organisations and government officials is analysing how to put some of the measures into place as soon as is practical. NFFO and UKAFPO are amongst those represented on the working group. The aim is to identify measures:
- That would be of direct assistance to the industry, or parts of the industry, without creating adverse impacts
- Could be justified as proportionate in the circumstances
- Do not generate undesirable unintended consequences
NFFO/UKAFPO 27th March 2020