The Scottish Government is supporting the Fishing Industry in Scotland with an initial funding package totally £5million.

Marine Scotland will be writing to all vessels and relevant representative Associations with more details. Queries can be emailed to: seafisheriesintervention@gov.scot

Over 650 seafood fishing companies will be offered support.

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 length and under – the vast majority of which are in the creel and dive sectors.

How will support be allocated?

• full time is being defined as where a vessel has recorded landings of £20,000 or more. This is the same limit that has been applied in previous schemes vessels that are under 12 metres in length and were registered in Scotland on the 18 March 2020

• earnings are defined as recorded landing income from sales notes from 2019. These data are submitted to Marine Scotland by buyers

• monthly payments are based on monthly average 2019 sales income

• wrasse catching vessels will not be included in this initial scheme as their markets remain largely uninterrupted

Support is also being planned for the onshore fish processing sector which has also been hit badly by the restrictions of the #COVID-19 pandemic.

Stromness fishing boats credit Hannah Fennell