EU enables immediate support to hard-hit fisheries sector

As the novel Coronavirus pandemic has driven several member-states across the European bloc to impose a nationwide lockdown, with restaurants and canteens closing down and retailers and large-scale buyers reducing their activities, the demand for seafood has fallen dramatically.
At the same time, restrictions of movement and border controls, have severely affected the flow of goods and thus, the seafood industry, which depends on landing facilities, transport and storage.
Fishing and aquaculture are among the worst-affected sectors by the COVID-19 emergency.
The Commission has committed to supporting both EU citizens and the bloc’s economy, through the pre-authorisation of state aid by member-states, to keep liquidity flowing.
“Our fishermen and women and our aquaculture farmers are among the first to suffer the economic consequences of COVID-19, as the demand for seafood has experienced a dramatic slump,” said Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
The Commissioner pledged EU’s Executive Body’s support, adding that “together, we will ensure that the EU maintains a strong seafood industry and thriving coastal communities, now and in the future.”
State aid will be granted until the end of 2020 to ensure long-term survival of businesses, for all fisheries activities hit by COVID-19, except for those explicitly excluded from the de minimis aid in the fishery and aquaculture sector.