We’re making adjustments to how we work so that we can continue to support the UK seafood sector.

As the coronavirus situation evolves, Seafish staff will work from home until Friday 1st May, to reduce the risk to health and wellbeing and play our part in slowing the spread.

Meetings will happen by phone, conference call or online and our staff will be available as usual via email and phone. We have postponed or cancelled some of our larger events which were due to take place before 1st May. We are fully committed to supporting the UK seafood sector through this difficult time.

In this situation, the availability of food is crucial and the seafood industry has a huge part to play in this.

We are aware of the impact this is already having on seafood businesses and supply chains and we will do what we can to help.

We can play an important role in pulling together a complete overview of all the impacts of coronavirus across the entire seafood sector.

You can contribute information and insight so that we can provide a full overview to the industry and Government through regular reports.

Please tell us how your business is affected by coronavirus and how you’re responding by emailing seafish@seafish.co.uk or get in touch with anybody at Seafish and they will share your story with our analysis team. Your information will be treated confidentially.

If there is anything else you think we can do to help, please let us know.

More information on support for the seafood industry is available on our

Coronavirus updates for the seafood industry

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is expected to impact our lives and businesses. We’ll provide the latest updates from Government for businesses, employers and employees in the seafood industry.

Last updated Monday 16th March 2020.

As the situation with coronavirus (Covid-19) in the UK evolves, it is important that everyone is aware of the latest advice from the UK Government and the health information from the NHS.

This is likely to cause significant business disruption. We are currently monitoring the situation and how this is impacting the seafood industry.

Support from Seafish

We are aware of the impact this is already having on seafood businesses and supply chains and we will do what we can to help.

We can play an important role in pulling together a complete overview of all the impacts of coronavirus across the entire seafood sector.

You can contribute information and insight so that we can provide a full overview to the industry and Government through regular reports.

Please tell us how your business is affected by coronavirus and how you’re responding by emailing seafish@seafish.co.uk or get in touch with anybody at Seafish and they will share your story with our analysis team. Your information will be treated confidentially.

If there is anything else you think we can do to help, please let us know.

Support and advice for businesses

The UK Government has published updated guidance for businesses, employers and employees. We recommend you check the page regularly and subscribe for email alerts.

The Government also announced a package of measures to provide support for public services, individuals and businesses affected by Covid-19. This includes:

A statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs
A Business Rate Relief for small businesses and pubs
Small business grant funding of £3,000 for all business in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to support long-term viable businesses who may need to respond to cash-flow pressures by seeking additional finance

Defra is asking all businesses in the seafood and fisheries sectors to report back any intel on how events might be impacting their businesses.

Please email FishEUExit@defra.gov.uk with any information you would like to share.

Local sources of support

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Governments have local information available via their websites:

We recommend you check their websites regularly and subscribe to email alerts.

Scotland

A new helpline has been launched to supply Scottish businesses with tailored advice on coronavirus. The helpline number is 0300 303 0660.

It is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:30, based at Scottish Enterprise's call centre in Clydebank. Call handlers will answer questions from businesses related to Covid-19 as well as relaying the challenges faced by businesses to the Scottish Government.

Wales

Business Wales has advice on its website for Welsh businesses. The phone number for further advice is 0300 060 3000.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Business Info has advice on its website for Northern Irish businesses.

Other sources of support

ACAS has published information for employees and employers, including information on simple steps to help protect the health and safety of staff, sick pay and absence from work.

A number of private lenders are also making funds available to small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including £2 billion from Lloyds Banking Group and £5 billion from NatWest.

A message from Paul Trebilcock

Given the ongoing concerns from members in relation to Covid-19, the CFPO together with SWFPO and Interfish FPO have been in discussion with local markets (Newlyn, Plymouth and Brixham) about the selling of fish. There is a great deal of uncertainty at the moment and in reality that uncertainty is likely to continue, at the moment (today!) thankfully the market is holding up.

There are worries about what species might be most vulnerable to major demand and/or price drop -but at this stage it was felt that emphasis should be on on lower volumes and higher quality as a general approach.

Shorter trips are considered to be a wiser step rather than risking higher volumes from longer trips that may be more difficult to sell -obviously where possible/practical.

Please speak to your respective market/auctioneer/buyer about what you are catching and when you are intending to land to ensure they can spread landings. Market stability is more likely to be secured from shorter trips and staggered landings.

To date there has been no major disruption of transport chains to the continent.

We are going to keep in close liaison with other SW POs and markets this week and will endeavour to keep you informed as more information emerges.

If you have any questions or concerns about the impact COVID-19 might have on your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our door is always open.

Paul Trebilcock