Minister announces fishing boat decommissioning scheme

Agriculture Minister Bríd Rodgers has announced that she was making available £5 million to fund the Northern Ireland Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme 2001.

Speaking on Friday October 5 at the launch of the National Seafood week Bríd Rodgers said: "I am delighted to be able to announce the introduction of the Decommissioning Scheme, following extensive consultation with the industry in Northern Ireland. I am very conscious of the difficulties currently being experience by the catching sector and know this scheme will be particularly welcome at this time. I also intend to introduce a series of schemes to assist all sectors of the industry over the next few weeks."

Applications are now invited from those wishing to apply for a grant to decommission their fishing vessel under the Fishing Vessel (Decommissioning) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2001. Vessel owners are eligible to apply if at date of application they hold a valid fishing licence in respect of the vessel which authorises fishing in all or any part of Community waters for all or any of the sea fish for which the United Kingdom has a share of the Community total allowable catch, and their vessel.

Stipulations include vessel must be at least 10 years old; is registered as a United Kingdom fishing vessel under Section 8(5) of the Merchant Shipping (Registration ECT) Act 1995; has been based in Northern Ireland since 1 January 2001 up to and including the date of application; is at least 10 metres in length; has spent at least 75 days at sea on fishing trips in each of the calendar years 1999 and 2000; and is in the same ownership at the time of application as on 1 January 2001. (AMcE)