The funding has been secured from savings redeployed from elsewhere in the fisheries budget and will apply in 2001-02 only. Application forms will be available from my Department shortly. The main aims of the structural grants are to promote the adjustments which are needed across the sea fish industry. They will encourage fishermen to improve the quality and thus the value of the fish they catch, by careful handling at sea and on land. There is grant aid to promote the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing methods, through the purchase of suitable gear.
Grants are also available for innovation in the processing and marketing of fish onshore.
There is an important role for the provision of advice to the industry in responding to the situation of low fish stocks by developing their operations in viable and sustainable ways, and grant aid is available for projects to provide this support to encourage the introduction of best practice. A priority for all in the industry is a better safety record at sea. We strongly urge all fishermen to take full advantage of these opportunities. Furthermore, we recognise the strength of the case for helping coastal communities which may be affected by restructuring of the industry. Other measures are therefore being announced by DETR to assist fishing regions in providing support for retraining and regeneration.