COVID-19 Temporary Voluntary Tie-Up’ Scheme is Open for Applications

The Scheme will be implemented under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme 2014-20, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Commission.

The new scheme, which complements the Government Covid-19 measures such as wage supports and loan arrangements already being provided, will offer support to vessel owners for fixed costs incurred while tied-up.

The closing date for applications for June is 5pm on Wednesday May 27th. Applications for July and August will be accepted up until June 20th  and July 20th respectively. Any vessel not receiving support to tie-up in any month due to over-subscription to the Scheme may opt to tie-up for one or two of the following months. Applications to the Scheme can be made online at https://bim.flexigrant.com/

ABOUT THE COVID-19 TEMPORARY FLEET TIE-UP SCHEME

Eligible vessels will be supported to voluntarily opt to tie up for one or two months, during June, July & August. The two-month period does not necessarily have to be for consecutive months. For instance, the tie-up period could be June and August.

Vessels from the inshore fleet as well as larger vessels in the polyvalent, specific and beam trawl segments will be eligible to apply. The Scheme offers support from €500 per month for a maximum of two months for the smallest vessels (under 6 metres in length)  to €6,000 per month for a maximum of two months for the largest vessels (over 24 metres). The tie-up scheme will be available to a maximum of 66% of the fishing fleet, in the different size categories, in any one month to ensure that the food chain is maintained and that there is continuity of supply to the limited markets available.

To qualify for the Scheme, a vessel must have carried out fishing activity at sea for at least 120 days over the 2-year period 2018/19 and have returned a total of first sales notes of fish of at least €5,000 in the calendar year 2019. The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority will verify this information for the purposes of this Scheme.

Additionally, vessel owners accepted onto the Scheme will be required to surrender their fishing licence to BIM for the period of the tie-up. This can be done by post or via designated collection and drop-off points. Please contact your BIM regional officer for specific details Grant payment will be withheld from any vessel owner found to have fished during the tie-up period for which they have been approved. Licences will be returned to the vessel owner at the end of each tie-up period.

The following grant aid is applicable by vessel size: 

Source DAFM