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Fisheries Minister Elliot Morley today announced a £22.5 million package of aid to the English Fishing Industry.
It comprises:
£6 million of additional MAFF funding to help restructure the industry - including schemes like de-commissioning.
£11 million worth of grants already allocated over the next three years to improve the quality and value of the fish they catch and promote the use of environmentally friendly gear.
£5.5 million from the DETR for retraining and rejuvenation at fishing ports.
Speaking in the North West Mr Morley today said:
"The £6 million is additional funding from the ministry and will be for schemes like de-commissioning and the industry will be closely consulted.
"We also aim to help the adjustment of the industry through the various grants already announced and I am pleased that today we are also launching the fisheries structural fund grants scheme (FIFG) for England.
"We have already committed £6 million to this EU scheme over the coming three years. In addition there is the separate £5m fund for fisheries in Cornwall.
"The main aims of these structural grants are to promote the adjustments which are needed across the sea fish industry.
"They will encourage fishermen to improve the quality and thus the value of the fish they catch, by careful handling at sea and on land. There is grant aid to promote the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing methods, through the purchase of suitable gear. Grants are also available for innovation in the processing and marketing of fish onshore.
"The Government shares with fish catching and processing organisations the goal of a sustainable, viable future for the sea fish industry. We are taking firm action to address the long-term needs of the industry.
"A key priority is to protect our fisheries resources for the future. In close partnership with the fishing industry we are taking a lead in the EU in establishing the recovery plans for key stocks such as cod and hake. We will continue to take this work forward seeking an appropriate combination of measures to provide for stock recovery.
"At the same time we must address the future direction and priorities of the industry. We all seek a sustainable industry which is economically profitable and which uses environmentally sustainable practices. The Government is ready to support and encourage the industry in pursuing these aims.
"In response to cases put to the devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland the devolved administrations have announced plans for measures to tackle the problems faced by their sectors of the fishing industry.
"Looking further ahead, the recent Green Paper on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy issued by the European Commission opens up opportunities for us to secure major changes in the way fisheries policy works in future.
"The Government will be consulting on this in detail with the fishing industry and other interests with the object of developing an approach which secures an economically and environmentally sustainable future to meet the needs of all with an interest in the industry in the UK.
"Meanwhile, the various measures we are applying will be addressing the range of problems faced by the industry.
Previous related news releases
1. The new fisheries grants will be funded by the EU structural fund known as the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG).
2. MAFF News Release 71/01 of February 27 2001 announced similar grants covering Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly under their Objective 1 Programme.
3. MAFF News Release 107/01 of 22 March 2001 announced free training courses for fishermen.
Source
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
Fisheries Division 1B
Room 441
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square,
London SW1P 3JR
Telephone 0207 238-5314 (answering machine for application forms)
0207 238 5903 (enquiries)
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