We pray for our soles!

While uncertainty about the ability of markets to ship out catches and the price of fish make it unviable for many of the fleet to stay fishing there are no such signs in the channel (Bristol Channel that is) as a fleet of beam trawlers from Belgium, Holland and local beam trawlers make the most of seasonal Dover sole fishing, traditional for this time of year. Dover soles are some of the most valuable fish landed on Newlyn, Plymouth and Brixham markets.

Latest COVID19 news from Seafish.

Seafish priorities in the midst of coronavirus

Our CEO Marcus Coleman explains what Seafish is doing right now to support the UK seafood industry in the wake of the situation caused by coronavirus.

There’s absolutely no doubt that COVID-19 is having a huge impact across the world. Our role is always to give the UK seafood industry the support it needs to thrive so, against this new challenge, we’re working hard to support businesses across the seafood sector. Here’s an overview of our key areas of focus at in this time of adversity.

Understanding the full impact on the UK seafood sector

We’re asking businesses throughout the seafood supply chain to let us know how they’re being affected and how they’re responding. We’re logging and reviewing information as quickly as we can and regularly updating the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive. The more information we receive the better informed they will be, so I’d encourage you to share information with us if you can.

You can get in touch with anybody at Seafish or email seafish@seafish.co.uk. All information provided will be treated confidentially.

Maintaining seafood supply

Seafood, in common with the entire food industry, is facing twin challenges of high consumer demand in the UK and disrupted supply chains. Most food service operations have closed and many export markets are not currently accessible, so we are working with businesses across the supply chain to find other markets for seafood landed into the UK. 

We’re currently developing guidance to help fishermen and fish merchants to use quayside sales, fish boxes and fish vans to sell their product locally, and possibly even nationally. We are also making promotional material available to support this.

We are working with government and processors to encourage large retailers to use more fresh fish in retail supply chains. Processors face unprecedented demand for product. They need to be able to be flexible, for example, quickly altering supply lines to process available species to ensure business continuity.  

Promoting seafood to the consumer

We’re currently supporting #SeaForYourself - a new marketing campaign which aims to get more UK consumers to eat more seafood caught in UK waters. Seafood businesses can download campaign resources and images from the Seafish Asset Bank to support their own marketing. Find out more about #SeaForYourself.

Alongside this we will also highlight to consumers how they can buy fish, such as from fish vans, fishmongers, quayside sales, fish boxes and fish and chip shops. We’ll also offer guidance and support on buying, cooking and eating species that consumers might not be as familiar or confident with. 

Assessing the longer term impacts 

Our fundamental objective is to ensure that the fabric of the UK seafood industry remains intact, so that when the emergency situation passes the sector can recover. As the picture becomes clearer we will assess the impact on the UK catching and processing sectors so we can report on the level of disruption caused, using case studies to show exactly what is happening to businesses and the people working in these sectors.

Support and advice for seafood businesses

A range of unprecedented measures have been announced by the government, but with new announcements almost daily it’s difficult for businesses and individuals to know exactly what help they are eligible for. 

It’s essential that the entire seafood supply chain knows what support is on offer and how to access it, so we’re providing information about available financial support and other forms of help and advice. 

Keeping you updated

Finally, we want to keep you up to date. Keep checking our webpages, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and make sure you sign up to receive our email alerts.

Today's news from the Julie of Ladram at sea.

Wednesday morning and all is well aboard the Julie of Ladram - Sprat gives us an update on a gloriously sunny start to the day. They are due to land on Thursday - but things could change!




Earlier today, BBC Farming programme's Rachel Lovell spoke first to Barry Young from BTA and then Paul Dyer who is the boat manager for Waterdance's fleet of boats which includes the Julie of Ladram. To get a feel for the national picture the report then turned to Barry Deas from the NFFO.

COROVID19 at sea - Sprat tells us how it is from the wheelhouse of the Julie of Ladram.

Technical issues to do with getting Tuesday's video from ship-to-shore prevented Sprat from updating us with this yesterday. This is the second update from the wheelhouse of the Julie of Ladram currently fishing in the western English Channel with his thoughts on life ashore for others and his from being out at sea - along with many other boats.

Support package for self-employed share fishermen in next 24/48 hours

DOMESTIC FISHERIES POLICY

Share-fishermen to be thrown a lifeline.

An announcement is expected within the next 24/48 hours on package of support that will help self-employed share-fishermen impacted by the coronavirus. A proposal has been submitted to the Treasury for decision. Whilst no guarantees are being given, there are high expectations that this new package will fill some of the gaps in the economic support measures announced so far. Self-employed share-fishermen are not eligible for the support given to wage earners (80% of earnings up to £2500 per month) and so it is imperative that the government acts urgently to fill this gap.The announcement on share fishermen is likely to be part of a package on measures for the self-employed more generally.

The NFFO has urged the government to act, as markets fail under the impact of reduced demand. Most export markets, the hospitality sector, and fish counters in some supermarkets have closed down. Transport links are affected.

The government and industry organisations like the NFFO, have a shared goal during this health emergency, of keeping businesses in the catching and supply chain intact, so that they can thrive again when the crisis is passed.

The support measures have been developed at pace, parallel to the increasing stringent restrictions to achieve physical distancing between people to reduce transmission of the disease. Measures announces so far have included:

• Direct support for the hospitality sector
• Interest free loans to help businesses survive the crisis. The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), which has been established to provide support for small businesses, is now open for applications. This may be of some but probably limited value in the fishing sector
• Wage support measures (as above)
• Food production workers have been designated as key workers, acknowledging that food security is a priority and that where possible the links in the supply chain from vessel to consumer should remain intact. Whilst limiting the spread of the virus is paramount and finding ways of limiting risk all-important, people require food

Summary

Restrictive measures to prevent transmission of covid-19 are running in parallel to economic support measures. Government announcements are made daily. There is an obvious gap in terms of support for the self-employed. It is understood that a support package for the self-employed is now with the treasury for approval. Defra, urged by the NFFO and others, has made the case to include self-employed share-fishermen in the package. We are confident that the case has been made and understood.

In the meantime, the Federation is engaged in the development of a wide range of support measures through government, industry organisations and the charity sector.

#FishToYourDoor campaign sees Cornwall rekindle love for fresh fish during Covid crisis

Seafood Cornwall’s #FishToYourDoor campaign - launched within hours of the first Covid-19 impacts on South-West fish markets - sees overwhelming response within first week.

A new campaign that facilitates quick match-making between Cornish fish merchants and fishmongers and would-be buyers across the country has been inundated with orders since launching last week.

Cornwall-wide seafood promotion initiative Seafood Cornwall launched the #FishToYourDoor campaign alongside the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation on Tuesday 17th March. Responding to the closing-down of restaurant trade and export markets, and aiming to keep sales routes open for domestic catch, the scheme was designed to connect individuals and households with fresh Cornish fish - via fish merchants with capacity to deliver.

One such merchant registered to receive customers through the #FishToYourDoor campaign is family-run business Celtic Fish and Game. Speaking of the impact of the initiative, Director Naomi Bullus commented: “Thanks to the #FishToYourDoor initiative, plus our own efforts, we have kept the doors open. We are delivering fish individually portioned, prepped and packed, and calling our customers to notify them that their contact-free delivery is on their doorstep".

Local MP Derek Thomas added: “I’m delighted to see a scheme like this come together so quickly in the face of all the troubling impacts of this Covid-19 pandemic. Fishing communities and seafood businesses deserve our support more than ever at this time - and it’s reassuring to see a system delivering healthy, local fish directly to households when many are struggling with supermarket shops. I hope this demand continues to grow over the coming months, and beyond the current circumstances”.

More than three requests per minute have been flooding in via the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation Facebook page, and Seafood Cornwall social media. Thus far, well over 400 new customers have been connected to merchants, many offering messages of support for Cornwall’s fishermen and reporting back, with comments including: “Thank you so much for going the extra mile to connect fishing families with the locals”, "I had some delicious fish delivered the next day and would like to place another order" and “this service will be a lifeline for me!”.

The #FishToYourDoor campaign is continuing to register interested merchants and buyers via:

● Facebook - www.facebook.com/Cornishfpo

● Twitter - @CornwallSeafood

● Email - info@cornwallseafood.org.uk

A phone number, web form and leaflet will be available shortly.

Many merchants can deliver beyond Cornwall - please spread the word to family and friends across the county to support our Cornish fishermen, and protect coastal communities from the worst of the economic onslaught from the coronavirus.

Newlyn suppliers of fresh fish by mail/courier:

Fresh Cornish Fish

Trelawney Fish

Harveys Crab

Stevensons Fish Shop

Indomitable UK fishing spirit - at sea, fishing to feed the nation

While the rest of the country takes on board and begins to comes to terms with the need to stay at home, practice social distancing and isolation our fishermen all around the coast are doing the same - only for them it's what they do every day - at sea, miles, sometimes hundreds, from home, out of sight and mind, whether singlehanded or in a crew of six fishermen have learned to spend most of their working lives under such circumstance. 

This time it's different. Skippers sailed this morning, prepared to do full trips, committing themselves to thousands of pounds of expenses to catch fish without being certain that when they land there will be sufficient demand for them to even pay the expenses for the trip.  The biggest of these vessels in the south west might burn up to £6000 worth of fuel per day, just one of the many bills to be paid before the crew see a wage.

One such boat is the Julie of Ladram, which sailed from Brixham this morning.

First mate Mike Smith aka Sprat had a few words for followers of Through the Gaps...

and its easy enough to follow the boats on any AIS app so the boats have promised to keep us posted on how the trips are going and what news they are getting from ashore re the effects COVID19 is having on their fish markets...

the Julie is not the only boat out there with huge overheads, right now David Stevens has the Crystal Sea...

away south of Newlyn trying to target the kind of fish UK consumers enjoy - like haddock but they will also be catching monk, lemon sole and other fish that UK consumers need to enjoy!

here is skipper David's haul now boxed and iced away in the fishroom!