Committees

UK Seafood Fund

Inquiry

This inquiry will evaluate how effectively the UK Seafood Fund will meet its stated objectives and how well the Government is delivering on the promises it has made to the fishing industry, and is intended to influence the implementation of the Fund to maximise its effectiveness.

Background

Following a commitment made by Prime Minister in December 2020, in December 2021 the Government established the UK Seafood Fund. This is in addition to other UK funding that has replaced EU funding for the sector following Brexit.  

The Government has said that the objectives of the UK Seafood Fund are to:

  • reform and modernise infrastructure in order to ‘level up’ - and bring economic growth to - coastal communities;
  • ensure the best science, research and technology is used in fisheries management;
  • encourage new entrants to the industry, while upskilling current members; and
  • enable an environmentally sustainable fishing industry.

There will be three funding streams within the UK Seafood Fund: Science & Innovation; Infrastructure; and Skills & Training. There will also be a £1m fund to help access external markets. The application window has already opened for some elements of the UK Seafood Fund.

For more information on the UK Seafood Fund, see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-seafood-fund  

Terms of reference

1. How effectively will the UK Seafood Fund allow the Prime Minister to deliver on the promises he has made to industry such as the modernisation of fleets and the fish processing industry?

2. How can the Fund’s infrastructure investment be best used to support economic growth to coastal communities?

3. What are the key training and skills needs that the Fund should target?

4. What science and innovation developments should the Fund prioritise? How can the Government ensure the outcome of this research benefits the whole sector?

5. How could the Fund be used to improve the environmental sustainability of the fishing industry?

6. To what extent should the Fund be focused on increasing the UK's catch capacity?

7. How well is the Fund engaging with the industry?

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Tuesday 10 May 2022.

Upcoming events

View all events

No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Tuesday 28 June 2022
1:00pm Private
1:15pm Public
UK Seafood Fund - Oral evidence 28 June 2022
1:15pm
  • Helen McLachlan (Head of Marine Policy at RSPB Scotland)
  • Chloe North (Manager at Western Fish Producers’ Organisation)
  • Dr Bryce Stewart (Senior Lecturer, Department of Environment and Geography at University of York)
2:15pm
  • Victoria Prentis (Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  • Sarah Adcock (Deputy Director for Evidence, Funding & Ocean Sustainability at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 7 June 2022
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
UK Seafood Fund - Oral evidence 7 June 2022
2:30pm
  • Barrie Deas (Chief Executive at National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations)
  • Elspeth Macdonald (Chief Executive at Scottish Fisherman’s Federation)
  • Hamish MacDonell (Director of Strategic Engagement at Salmon Scotland)
3:30pm
  • Jimmy Buchan (Chief Executive at Scottish Seafood Association)
  • Mark Simmonds (Director of Policy and Communications at British Ports Association)
  • Simon Potten (Head of Training (Safety and Services) at Seafish)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We can’t usually help you with an individual problem or a specific complaint.

  • Email: efracom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: Media enquiries: 020 7219 3138
  • Address: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA