Further funding announced to support the Scottish seafood sector

To further support fishermen, seafood businesses and ports and harbours that continue to be impacted by the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and the issues surrounding the EU exit, the Scottish Government have announced a new £7.75m funding package.

The funding package aims to support the Scottish seafood industry who face ongoing losses due to COVID-19 hospitality closures and are highly reliant on exports, particularly to the EU, meaning they are losing products or facing additional costs due to border disruption and new non-tariff barriers.

The funding package includes:

• £6.45m 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 COVID-19
• £1m 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 at this time

You can read more about the Seafood Producers Resilience Fund here, with further details scheduled to be released on the Marine Scotland section of the Scottish Government website from Friday 5 February 2021.

For more information or if you need support submitting an application form with the correct financial evidence, please contact our EQ Food & Drink specialists via foodanddrink@eqaccountants.co.uk or call one of our offices.