Coastal communities are in ‘absolute crisis’ due to virus

The collapse of markets for seafood catches and the enforcement of a lockdown to tackle the coronavirus pandemic has plunged coastal communities in Lochaber and elsewhere across the west Highlands into ‘absolute crisis’.

So says Allan Henderson, Highland councillor for Caol and Mallaig, speaking to the Lochaber Times this week after the Scottish Government’s announcement of a £7.2 million Scottish Crown Estate fund which is devolved to councils.

The 26 councils in Scotland which have coastlines can use their remaining share of the fund which they have not yet allocated to offer direct support to struggling coastal enterprises and organisations.

This is on top of the £2.2 billion package of business support already announced by the Scottish Government.

But the coronavirus pandemic has seen a massive slump in demand for seafood with some of the worst hit areas, according to the Fishermen’s Mission welfare charity, being small scale lobster and crab fishing operations on the west coast.

And Councillor Henderson says many of Lochaber’s businesses, including small fishing boats, are in the category of not receiving small business rates relief, as they pay no non-domestic rates, so will only qualify for self-employed help.

‘And this will also be weeks down the line when HMRC [Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs] gets its scheme going. Some fishing boats have also employed foreign nationals that they have to keep paying,’ said Councillor Henderson.

‘It’s an absolute crisis for coastal communities in Lochaber and the rest of the Highlands,’ he told us.

‘With all the hotels closed and markets shut, the bulk of local small boats – albeit not all – are now tied up. And there is a vast number of other businesses in Lochaber which are small to medium-sized and don’t pay non-domestic rates, so don’t qualify.’

Mr Henderson said that while the newly announced money was still welcome, it only equated to about £2.5million for the whole of the Highlands.

‘Once that is divided up between coastal communities it’s only going to last for a very short period of time. Most people will fall into the hardship category – there will be no other way of getting any funding.

‘The only way many people will get anything is through food banks and Universal Credit. A lot of people are going to be in danger of falling through the cracks.’

‘The only way many people will get anything is through food banks.’