Fisherman forced to turn his back on the sea after 40 years
A SCOTS fishermen is having to sell his boat after slipping through the government safety net for financial aid.
Skipper Michael Ritchie, 53, who has been at sea for 38 years, applied for hardship grants and funding for the self-employed in a bid to stop his business going under.
But he was shocked to find he did not qualify for help because funding is based on the value of past landings and his vessel had been laid up for several months for repairs, which cost him £50,000.
Mr Ritchie, from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, said: ‘I applied for the hardship fund but was refused because I had broken down last year, and that had affected my prawn catch. That is what the hardship fund is based on. I lost three months in wages when my boat was broken and this three months was during my main prawn fishing season. I couldn’t get out to sea at the beginning of the year due to bad weather, and then Covid19 happened.’
Mr Ritchie said he has no choice but to sell his boat. He added: ‘I have never missed any tax bills in 38 years and now I’ve been told that I am not entitled to anything.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Discussions continue with industry representatives to consider whether there are further vessels that can be identified as in genuine need of hardship support.’