Todd welcomes £7.75m package for seafood sector and slams 'shambolic Tory Brexit'

Highlands and Islands MSP Maree Todd has praised the Scottish Government for intervening to help the seafood sector with a £7.75 million funding package.

It will offer support to fishermen, seafood businesses and ports and harbours threatened by the effects of Covid-19 and the UK's exit from the European Union.

Seafood businesses from many parts of Scotland have struggled to get their goods to customers in the EU since the end of the Brexit transition period.

“To mitigate the devastating impacts of Brexit on the sector, the Scottish Government has stepped in with a £7.75 million funding package," Ms Todd said.

"Let’s be clear, the disruption to the fishing industry lies at the hands of the UK government. It is due to their recklessness and mishandling of Brexit that so many Highland seafood businesses now find themselves on the verge of closure.

“The Scottish Government has listened carefully to the needs of the sector and has responded with a comprehensive package of support. This will be a lifeline for many seafood businesses in the Highlands that have been hit hard by a shambolic Tory Brexit.”

The funding package, announced by Scotland's fisheries secretary Fergus Ewing, includes:

• £6.45 million for the Seafood Producers Resilience Fund which will provide support to eligible shellfish catchers and producers, in addition to trout farmers who have faced issues exporting to the EU and have lost access to domestic food markets as a result of coronavirus
• £1 million to be made available to support the investment plans of ports and harbours faced with a loss of income through landing fees
• Up to £300,000 to assist the welfare and emergency support activities of the Fishermen’s Mission in recognition of the hardship facing people working in the sector

Ms Todd claimed that, despite the Prime Minister's commitment last month to a £23 million compensation scheme for those in the fishing industry, the UK government had yet to get money into the hands of fishing firms.

The SNP MSP said: “The lack of clarity from the UK government on resilience funding for the seafood sector is completely unacceptable. The Tory government has hung the fishing industry out to dry."

In a statement, the trade body Seafood Scotland said the Scottish Government funding “will have a tangible impact on the livelihoods of some of the hardest hit in the sector, and in some cases could save generations-old businesses from going under”.

The UK government has said its support will be paid retrospectively to cover losses since the start of January, with claims of up to £100,000 available. It says the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and HM Revenue and Customs will also be offering “targeted, proactive and hands-on support to help these businesses meet the new requirements”.

This includes a new training package and focused workshop sessions.

The funding will be open to fishing businesses across the UK that export to the EU and will be administered by the Marine Management Organisation.

The UK government says it will be consulting within the industry and working with the devolved administrations on eligibility criteria.

Outlining the Scottish Government package, Mr Ewing said: “In the absence of any further clarity on resilience funding from the UK government we are stepping in to support the industry and coastal communities across Scotland and ensuring we meet the emergency needs of crews by providing welfare support through the Fishermen’s Mission. In addition to this funding, last week we also supported calls for a new dedicated task force, and announced funding for two new experts to help businesses navigate the new processes and requirements.

“Both shellfish and trout businesses who have faced losses due to Covid-19 hospitality closures across Europe are now losing products or facing additional costs due to border disruption and new non-tariff barriers. It’s not just exporting – we know this has serious knock-on effects that ripple right through the supply chain from boats struggling to land at ports to not being able to sell their catch.

“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.”

Full details of the Seafood Producers Resilience Fund is available on the Marine Scotland section of the Scottish Government website.

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