31.03.06
Fishing industry task force announces revision to grants for
the Cornish fleet
An update to the grant scheme for vessel modernisation was
announced today by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fishing
Industry Task Force with the addition of aid towards non-mandatory
safety equipment.
Since the beginning of the Objective One Fisheries Programme
in 2000 the Task Force has consistently maintained that the
safety of fishing boats and crews is of paramount importance.
Until a recent rule change by Defra, safety projects could
not be grant aided.
At its recent meeting the Fisheries Objective One Group (PMG)
backed up the calls from the Task Force and fully supported
the rule revision. They decided that the funds available for
the fleet to modernise should also be available for non-mandatory
safety improvements. The focus is on improvements to vessels
such as improved stability, escape hatches, better visibility
from the wheelhouse, watertight bulkheads, secondary steering
and engine controls, along with liferafts, rescue equipment,
EPIRBs, fire fighting equipment (where not mandatory), as
well as the new RNLI man overboard system.
Tony Tomlinson, Chairman of the Fisheries PMG and trawler
skipper from St Mawes, commented: "We agreed that
the funds available for upgrades on the fleet should be available
for boat owners to improve safety. The Objective One Fisheries
Programme is all about improving the investment in the whole
industry from net to plate and investment in the fleet and
the conditions that crews have to face everyday are part of
this package."
Paul Trebilcock, CEO of Cornish Fish Producers Organisation,
welcomed the news. "This is a long overdue change
in the rules which we have argued for over the past few years.
It will benefit a large number of Cornish fishermen in terms
of improving their safety whilst at sea and it is great to
see the Cornwall Fisheries Task Force exerting its influence
in a pro-active way."
Boat owners looking to upgrade the safety of their vessels
or currently planning a refit and modernisation should contact
SW Pesca Ltd 01872 270333 or via www.swpesca.co.uk.
For further information please contact Clare Leverton, Objective
One Fisheries Programme Manager on 01872 270333 or email admin@swpesca.co.uk.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly has invested in vessel modernisation projects
through the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance Fund
(FIFG).
Editor's notes:
Objective One Fisheries Programme
Cornwall's Objective One Fisheries programme
will provide over £10 million from April 2001 to December
2006 to the fishing industry in Cornwall and the Isles of
Scilly. The funds are a mixture of EU and national funds,
through the Financial Instruments for Fisheries Guidance fund
(FIFG) and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra).
The projects are approved by the Marine Fisheries Agency
in partnership with an Objective One Fisheries Priority Management
Group, made up of local fishing sector representatives. South
West Pesca Ltd helps applicants to develop projects by providing
guidance and help on completing application forms and submitting
applications.
Up to 40% (35% EU and 5% National) grants are available for
the private sector projects and 75% grants for the public
sector projects. So far 232 projects have been approved with
£7,278,000 of funds committed to these projects.
Examples of projects funded by the Objective One Programme:
| |
Vessel Modernisation: Adoption of sustainable fishing
methods, maximising fish quality on board fishing vessels,
and improvements to crew comfort and working conditions,
and improvements to safety |
| |
Improvement of fishing ports |
| |
Processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture
products |
| |
Product promotion |
| |
Projects by members of the trade of collective benefit
to the fishing industry |
| |
Innovative measures |
| |
Aquaculture |
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fishing Industry Task Force
consists of fisheries regulators, port managers, fish merchants/processors,
agents and fishermen's representatives. Questions about the
Task Force should be directed to Clare Leverton at SW Pesca
Ltd 01872 270333.
Objective One Fisheries Priority Management Group (PMG),
chaired by Tony Tomlinson, is part of the process for projects
to receive grant aid from the Objective One Programme. Tony
Tomlinson is available for interviews on 07831 269967.
Cornish Fish Producers Organisation is a cooperative group
of individual fishing vessel owners which assists with members
issues and runs quota managment on behalf of its members.
Paul Trebilcock is available for interviews on 01736 351050.
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
 back
to top
|
