Coastal operators offered fresh help with costs
Two supplementary fuel schemes will assist eligible fishing vessel owners and aquaculture producers facing high energy bills. Administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the initiatives draw on remaining government funding and open for applications on 16 November.
Fishing vessel owners and aquaculture producers will be able to seek further help with fuel costs under two schemes announced by Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State for Fisheries Timmy Dooley.
The schemes will use the remaining funds from the €15 million allocated by the Government for initial fuel supports for registered vessel owners earlier this year. Heydon secured agreement for the balance to be used for the supplementary schemes.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) will administer the Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme and the Aquaculture Business Vessel Fuel Support Scheme. Eligible operators will receive lump-sum payments calculated on previously receipted expenditure, but applicants will not need to gather or submit fuel receipts.
Heydon said high fuel prices were having a severe impact on both sectors and that the proposed supports would assist their economic and environmental sustainability. Dooley said fishing and aquaculture businesses were important to the coastal economy and that the application process had been designed to be straightforward.
Applicants who received an offer under the first call should not apply again for the same vessels or aquaculture business. BIM will create an application for them and make contact directly with the relevant information.
Eligible operators who did not receive an offer or payment under the first call may submit a new application. Under the registered vessel scheme, an existing applicant may also apply for an additional vessel that was not included in their original application.
The aquaculture business scheme is open to eligible producers of:
- Salmon
- Rope-grown mussels
- Rope-grown seaweed