Version March 23 March 2020   Bob Earll

Guardian: Coronavirus: ‘severe shock’ to UK fishing as markets dry up

The coronavirus outbreak has hit British fishers with a “very severe shock” as demand from export markets and the domestic restaurant trade has dried up.

The UK exports about 70% of its catch to Europe and Asia but imports most of what British consumers eat. Fishing leaders said catches of normally expensive seafood such as Dover sole and lobster may now end up in fishmongers at bargain prices. The crews running the 2,500 boats that fish in inshore waters are self-employed, making them especially vulnerable, and they support five times as many jobs onshore. While no one wants the shutdown to continue, scientists said a pause in fishing could result in a recovery of marine life numbers.

“It may be a temporary crisis but it is a very severe shock,” said Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations. He said China has become a big market for UK crab in recent years. “Some parts of the fleet have become very dependent on that, and that was the first to go, with a very dramatic fall in demand.”

“You have these prime species that tend to go across to the continent, like Dover sole, lobster and crab, high value species that also go to the [UK] restaurant trade,” he said. “For [British] people who find Dover sole too expensive at the fishmonger, this would be a good time to try it. There will be bargains. I’m not saying the scale of it would be a substitute for what is exported, but we are looking for silver linings here.”  Click here to read more

The National Fishermans’ Federation – statement

The NFFO have already begun a dialogue with the Government on how best to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the fishing industry over its duration. The market for fish and shellfish has already been badly affected, with fears of worse to come:

  • An early sector to feel the consequences of the virus is the crab market, which had responded to increasing demand from China and which has now seen a dramatic fall in price, as restrictions bite
  • Inventories of frozen nephrops were approaching capacity before the virus struck and saturation point will inevitably impact on buyers’ behaviours on the 1st hand market
  • Whitefish prices are also softening as buyers face logistical difficulties and travel restrictions triggered by the coronavirus
  • Seasonal fisheries such as cuttlefish are likely to be impacted by restrictions in Italy and France, particularly closures in the restaurant sector
  • There are concerns about how fish processing units will continue to operate if the workforce is impacted directly by the virus, or by efforts to self-isolate
  • Individual judgements on self-isolation will be made by fishermen but the impacts will be felt across whole crews and fishing businesses

In these unique and unprecedented circumstances, individual fishing businesses and producer organisations are taking their own steps to mitigate impacts by arranging shorter trips, staggering and planning landings, reducing quantities landed, in order to avoid flooding the market and triggering a price collapse.

Science

The production of the scientific advice for next year’s quotas has been affected and shorter, more summary advice than that we have become used to will emerge to inform the autumn management decisions – this time with the UK participating for the first time as an independent coastal state.

Support

We are in a highly dynamic situation. As the virus spreads, new impacts are becoming manifest. Evolving regulatory responses and market reactions, mean that it will be necessary to understand exactly what is happening in a rapidly changing situation.

This is the context within which the form and shape of a government support package will be discussed, with a focus on keeping the sector viable during this, temporary but undoubtedly severe shock. Click here to access NFFO site

Europe Responds

20 March 2020   Coronavirus: European Commission helps Member States support local fishing and aquaculture communities through EU and national funds

In response to the severe economic impact of the coronavirus crisis on the fishing and aquaculture sectors, DG MARE has published an information note to give guidance to EU Member States outlining existing tools and instruments to support their local communities. These two sectors have been hit particularly hard by significant market disruptions, including from mandatory restaurant closures.

20 March 2020

Coronavirus response: EU enables Member States to support hard-hit fisheries sector

As the Coronavirus pandemic threatens the health of our citizens, many parts of the EU economy are also experiencing major disruptions. Fishing and aquaculture have been among the hardest hit sectors. The European Commission has therefore decided to adopt a temporary State aid framework to enable Member States to provide relief to economic operators hit by the crisis. The new Temporary Framework allows aid up to a level of €120,000 per undertaking active in the fishery and aquaculture sectors.

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