Minister for the Marine Charlie McConalogue, T.D. today announced two new Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funded schemes, representing a combined support package of an additional €8 million for the Irish seafood sector.
The new schemes are as follows:
- Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme, which has a budget of €7 million.
- Brexit Fisheries Cooperative Transition Scheme, which has a budget of €1 million.
Announcing the schemes, the Minister said:
“I am pleased to announce today the implementation of further recommendations of the Seafood Task Force, designed to assist fisheries cooperatives and fish processors to overcome the impacts of the reduction in quotas arising from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). These schemes will make an additional €8 million in support available to the Irish seafood sector and as of the end of October increases the BAR funding I have announced to €304.9 million.”
These schemes are based on the recommendations of the Seafood Taskforce which was established by Minister McConalogue in 2021 to assess the impacts of Brexit and the TCA on the fishing sector and coastal communities.
The Minister continued: “Today’s announcement of a combined €8 million in support recognises the significant impact of the EU-Brexit TCA across the Irish Seafood Sector, and in particular in Irelands more peripheral rural and coastal communities. In taking the form of direct grant aid, these schemes will support processors and fish cooperatives in dealing with challenges arising from a reduction in raw material. I am confident that this funding will further support the Irish seafood sector to adjust to the changed environment that we find ourselves in, and help ensure a profitable and sustainable seafood sector into the future. Now that I have secured State Aid approval from the EU Commission, I will be instructing BIM to administer these schemes without delay.”
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency, will administer these schemes on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and further information will be available once the schemes are launched, from the BIM website.