Waterford fishermen to receive further fuel supports
Minister Heydon said he was aware of the impact high fuel prices are having on Ireland’s fishing and aquaculture sectors.
The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine have announced the opening of fuel support schemes for the fishing and aquaculture sectors to supplement previous schemes.
The new schemes will utilise the balance of funds from the €15 million allocated by the Government for the initial round of supports earlier this year that were available to owners of registered vessels.
The announcement was made by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD.
In a statement, Minister Heydon said he was aware of the impact high fuel prices are having on Ireland’s fishing and aquaculture sectors.
“The proposed Fuel Support Schemes will assist with their economic and environmental sustainability at this time,” he said.
The two schemes are administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and aim to supply eligible vessel owners and aquaculture producers with targeted supports.
Recipients of the scheme will receive payment through lump sums, which will be calculated by their previously receipted expenditure. Applicants will not have to submit fuel receipts to the department.
Announcing the launch of the schemes, Minister Dooley highlighted the important role that the fishing and aquaculture businesses play in the coastal economy.
“These schemes, administered by BIM, will provide practical assistance to eligible operators as they continue to manage the impact of fuel costs,” said Minister Dooley.
“We have also sought to make the process as straightforward as possible. Payments will be delivered in lump sums, meaning applicants will not need to gather or submit fuel receipts,” he said.
The Department has requested that any applicant who received an offer under the first call should not submit a new application for the same vessels or aquaculture business, as BIM will create an application for them and contact them directly with the relevant information.
Any operator who did not receive an offer or payment under the first call can now submit a new application, if they are eligible.
Under the Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme, an existing applicant may also submit a new application for an additional vessel that was not included in their original one.
The other support is titled ‘The Aquaculture Business Vessel Fuel Support Scheme’ and is open to eligible producers of salmon, rope-grown mussels, and rope-grown seaweed.
Further details on the schemes are available on BIM.ie, with applications closing on Friday, November 27, at 11am.
