Guidance

Fisheries Response Fund - support for fishing and aquaculture businesses

£10 million financial assistance for England’s fishing and aquaculture businesses in response to Covid-19 was announced by Defra and HM Treasury on 17 April 2020.

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£10 million financial assistance for England’s fishing and aquaculture businesses in response to Covid-19 was announced by Defra and HM Treasury on 17 April 2020.

There will be two funds, both administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) that will target those most in need. The first fund of £9 million is called the Fisheries Response Fund (FRF) and will directly contribute towards the fixed business costs of over 1000 catching and aquaculture businesses that have been adversely impacted by the downturn of export and domestic markets for fish and shellfish.

Qualifying fishing vessel owners will be contacted directly in stages by MMO from Monday 20 April 2020.

Qualifying aquaculture businesses will be contacted directly by MMO from Thursday 07 May 2020.

The second fund has a value of £1 million and will be a grant scheme to support the sale of fish locally. The Domestic Seafood Supply Fund (DSSS) launched on 29 April 2020.

Published 20 April 2020
Last updated 6 May 2020 + show all updates
  1. Details of the aquaculture support element of the FRF added which launched on 06 May 2020

  2. FAQ's updated with additional information following further queries

  3. Typo in FAQ's updated to reflect eligibility period of 01 March 2019 to 23 March 2020

  4. First published.