Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced a new round of funding under the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme.
The support scheme which operated in 2022 was put in place to assist 800 inshore fishers in adjusting to the impacts of Brexit.
However, given the ongoing challenges faced by the inshore sector, the scheme has been redeveloped and relaunched to offer further support to inshore fishers.
The 2023 support scheme will introduce a suite of new online training modules to be made available by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), specifically tailored to the inshore fishing sector which will help these fishers manage costs, increase product quality and reach new customers. The scheme will be open to owners of fishing vessels under 18 metres in length, registered in the polyvalent, polyvalent potting and specific segments.
Payments will be made to eligible beneficiaries who complete one of the modules, in order to assist them in implementing changes to their business model. Payment rates remain at €2,700 for owners of vessels under 8 metres in length and €4,000 for owners of vessels between 8 metres and 17.99 metres in length.
Minister McConalogue attended a meeting with representatives of the Inshore fisheries sector on Wednesday.
Topics included developments in the hook and line mackerel fishery, North West herring policy and new fishing opportunities for spurdog. The Minister also spoke about his initiative to establish a Brown Crab Working Group in order to review the current arrangements in place for that fishery and to examine management options likely to support the sustainability of brown crab stocks in Ireland.
Announcing the new Scheme, Minister McConalogue said: “Our inshore fishers in Donegal and throughout the country make a significant contribution to our coastal communities and blue economy. While positive steps have been taken to support these fishers, the challenges in terms of operating costs and market access remain.”
“I am announcing today up to €3.5 million in short-term funding for the sector. This new round of support will bridge the gap for the inshore sector, while longer term measures to strengthen the seafood sector as a whole take effect. Our inshore fishers in Donegal are the cornerstone of our coastal communities and integral to those communities.”
The Scheme will open in the coming weeks and will be administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Further details will be available from BIM in due course at https://bim.ie/fisheries/funding/
For vessel owners to be eligible, they must demonstrate that they were actively fishing during 2022. The scheme will specify requirements in this respect.
