Ireland launches post-Brexit support scheme for local inshore fishers

A newly crafted support scheme for Ireland’s inshore fisheries sector aims to assist the country’s inshore fishers in adjusting to the impacts of Brexit on their businesses.

The Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme delivers on a recommendation of the Report of the Seafood Task Force – Navigating Change (October 2021). The scheme will be implemented under deminimis rules and is proposed for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said the scheme will take the form of a suite of four online training modules to be made available by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the state agency tasked with supporting the development of the Irish seafood industry.

The scheme is specifically tailored to the inshore fishing sector, with a payment to owners of inshore fishing vessels to assist them with the costs of undertaking the training and subsequently adjusting their business and marketing plans. The scheme will be open to owners of fishing vessels under 18 metres in length, registered in the polyvalent, polyvalent potting and specific segments.

As recommended by the Seafood Task Force, these one-off payments will be €2,700 (US$3,097) for owners of vessels under eight metres in length and €4,000 (US$4,588) for owners of vessels between eight metres and 17.99 metres in length.

The scheme will operate from January to March 2022 and will be administered by BIM. Further details will be available from BIM in due course via this link.

For vessel owners to be eligible, they must demonstrate that they were actively fishing during the period January to June 2021. The scheme will specify requirements in this respect.