Grants to Help Wales’ Fishing Businesses through COVID-19 Pandemic

Grants to Help Wales’ Fishing Businesses through COVID-19 Pandemic

Grants will soon be available to support fishing businesses in Wales during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The country’s fishing industry has been hit especially hard as exports and domestic markets have shut due to the public health crisis.

Existing support for the wider business sector is often based on factors such as the rateable value of fixed premises or the number of staff employed, however, these often do not apply to fishing businesses.

The new support has been announced by the Welsh Government as a targeted grant for vessel owning fishing businesses, to ensure they are able to cover their costs during this difficult time.

The grant will help cover fixed costs associated with owning a fishing vessel. The grant will be calculated by vessel size, with a maximum payment of £10,000.

All active seafood businesses with Welsh-licenced vessels and recorded sales of £10,000 or more in 2019, and all eligible fishers will be provided with a one off payment.

Further details on the application process will be announced shortly. Eligible fishers should first register online with Rural Payments Wales (RPW). Once applications are open, businesses may then apply online through RPW.

The Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said:

‘Fishing is a hugely important part of the Welsh food and drink sector, and it sustains livelihoods and communities across our coasts, but the COVID-19 pandemic has hit exports and internal markets incredibly hard, leading to many in the sector facing the loss of their livelihoods, and the permanent closure of their businesses.

‘This will be a period of uncertainty for many in the sector, and that’s why we want to ensure we could support them as they face unavoidable costs.’

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.