Coronavirus (COVID-19): marine sectors - business survey

8. Sectoral results

8.1 Shellfish Fisheries

Key Messages

Markets

• The vast majority of Shellfish operators (96%) continued to trade during the Covid period, defined as March – June 2020.
• Wide reduction in activity mainly due to not being able to access the EU market and large drop in prices. 33% of respondents reported that prices will have to increase by more than 30% to return to normal activity levels.
• 73% of Shellfish operators did not find new markets during the Covid period and 87% reported a decrease in prices.
• 78% of Shellfish operators are exporters and 49% of them reported that exports decreased by more than 50% during the Covid period.
• Almost 87% of the Shellfish operators surveyed don't engage in imports, therefore prices and availability of imports is not an issue for them.

Finance

Wide spread use of the hardship funds available - 69% applied and 73% received the Marine Scotland Sea Fisheries Support Scheme and 16% applied and 9% received the Marine Scotland Aquaculture hardship fund.

• 71% of Shellfish operators were able to cover both fixed and variable costs during the Covid period.
• Only 18% of Shellfish operators did not rely on any government support to survive through the Covid period.
• 33% were fairly confident that they would be able to continue to operate for the next 12 months.

Workforce

• 86% of Shellfish operators source their workers locally. Less than 7% source their workers from the rest of the EU.
• 29% of Shellfish operators decreased working hours of their workers; 16% laid off crew in the short term and less than 11% furloughed some of their workforce.

Readiness for second wave and Brexit

• 58% have made no preparatory plans anticipating a second wave of Covid-19, 16% said they would be planning soon and 27% have made plans
• 47% have made no preparatory plans to anticipate the end of the Brexit transitional period on the 31st of December 2020, 24% said they would be planning soon, 27% have made plans.

8.2 Demersal Fisheries

Key Messages

Markets

• The vast majority of demersal operators (94%) continued to trade during the Covid period, defined as March – June 2020.
• Wide reduction in activity mainly due to a large drop in prices and not being able to access the EU market. 57% of those who answered this question reported that prices will have to increase by more than 30% to return to normal activity levels.
• 72% of demersal operators did not find new markets during the Covid period and 67% reported a decrease in prices.
• 78% of demersal operators are exporters and 39% of demersal operators reported that exports decreased by more than 50% during the Covid period.
• 67% of demersal operators surveyed don't engage in imports. The remaining stated that imports were unaffected or they were not sure.

Finance

• Wide spread use of the hardship funds available - 39% applied for and received funding from the Marine Scotland Sea Fisheries Support Scheme. However, 33% of respondents did not apply for support from any listed government initiatives.
• 78% of demersal operators were able to cover both fixed and variable costs during the Covid period.
• 44% of demersal operators did not rely on government support to survive through the Covid period, while 17% relied solely and 39% relied partly on government support.
• 72% were fairly confident that they would be able to continue to operate for the next 12 months.

Workforce

• 33% of demersal operators source their workers locally (this includes family). However, 33% of operators source their workers from Scotland but not locally. 34% of respondents source their workers from other EU countries or countries out with the EU.
• 44% of demersal operators decreased working hours of their workers, 28% furloughed some of their workforce and 22% laid off crew in the short term.

Readiness for Second Wave and Brexit

• 83% have made no preparatory plans anticipating a second wave of Covid-19, while just 17% have made plans.
• 72% have made no preparatory plans to anticipate the end of the Brexit transitional period on the 31st of December 2020, 22% have made plans.

8.3 Pelagic Fisheries

The results for pelagic fishery respondents are not reported for disclosure reasons.

8.4 Finfish Aquaculture

Key Messages

Markets

• The vast majority of finfish businesses (89%) continued to trade during the Covid-19 period, defined as March – June 2020.
• All respondents (100%) reported a difference in turnover during the lockdown period (March - June 2020) compared to this time last year.
• 44% of finfish businesses did not find new markets during the Covid period.
• 67% of finfish businesses are importers and 11% of them reported that imports decreased by up to 20% during the Covid period. 44% reported imports to have been unaffected.

Finance

• 67% of finfish businesses reported that their ability to access financial resources stayed the same during the coronavirus outbreak.
• Wide spread use of government support schemes – 67% applied for funding from various schemes with just 11% of them not receiving funding.
• However, 33% of respondents did not apply for support from any listed government initiatives.
• 100% of finfish businesses were able to cover both fixed and variable costs during the Covid period.
• 100% of finfish businesses did not rely on government support to survive through the Covid period, as their business is financially viable without business support.
• 56% were very confident and 44% were fairly confident that they would be able to continue to operate for the next 12 months.

Workforce

• 78% of finfish businesses source their workers locally. 67% source their workers from within Scotland. 22% of operators source their workers from the rest of the UK or other EU countries.
• 56% of finfish businesses furloughed staff, 33% increased working hours of their workers, 22% decreased working hours, 22% recruited staff in the short term and 11% laid off staff in the short term.

Readiness for Second Wave and Brexit

• 78% have made preparatory plans anticipating a second wave of Covid-19, while just 22% have made no plans but will be planning soon.
• 56% have made preparatory plans to anticipate the end of the Brexit transitional period on the 31st of December 2020, 44% have made no plans with 25% of them intending on planning soon.

8.5 Shellfish Aquaculture

The results for shellfish aquaculture respondents are not reported for disclosure reasons.

8.6 Rivers and Fisheries Trust – Recreational Fishing

Key Messages

Markets

• The majority of rivers/fisheries trust businesses (67%) continued to operate during the Covid-19 lockdowns, with 33% temporarily closing or pausing operation.
• 44% of businesses experienced a decrease in turnover of more than 50%.
• 89% of rivers/fisheries trust businesses did not find any new markets to export to or new buyers during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Finance

• 33% of respondents reported that their ability to access financial resources during the coronavirus outbreak stayed the same.
• 67% of rivers/fisheries trust businesses were able to cover both fixed and variable costs during the Covid-19 period.
• 44% of businesses did not rely on government support to survive through the Covid-19 period, while 44% relied partly on government support.
• 77% were fairly to very confident that they would be able to continue to operate for the next 12 months.

Workforce

• 78% of rivers/fisheries trust businesses source their workers locally. However, 22% of operators source their workers from Scotland but not locally.
• 78% of businesses furloughed some of their workforce, 22% decreased working hours and 11% increased working hours.

Readiness for Second Wave and Brexit

• 66% have made no preparatory plans anticipating a second wave of Covid-19, while just 33% have made plans.
• 89% have made no preparatory plans to anticipate the end of the Brexit transitional period on the 31st of December 2020, 11% have made plans.

8.7 District Salmon Fishery Boards (DSFB) – Recreational Fishing

Key Messages

Markets

• The majority of DSFB businesses (53%) continued to operate during the Covid-19 lockdowns, with 47% temporarily closing or pausing operation.
• 33% of businesses experienced a decrease in turnover of more than 50%.
• 87% of DSFB businesses did not find any new markets to export to or new buyers during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Finance

• 67% of respondents reported that their ability to access financial resources during the coronavirus outbreak stayed the same.
• 53% of DSFB businesses were not able to cover both fixed and variable costs during the Covid-19 period.
• 33% of businesses did not rely on government support to survive through the Covid-19 period, while 7% relied solely and 40% relied partly on government support.
• 27% were very confident that they would be able to continue to operate for the next 12 months, with a further 40% being fairly confident.

Workforce

• 80% of DSFB businesses source their workers locally. However, 20% of operators source their workers from Scotland but not locally. The rest of respondents source their workers from the rest of the UK.
• 53% of businesses furloughed some of their workforce, 20% decreased working hours, 13% laid off staff in the short term, and 7% recruited staff for the short term.

Readiness for Second Wave and Brexit

• 73% have made no preparatory plans anticipating a second wave of Covid-19, while just 27% have made plans.
• 87% have made no preparatory plans to anticipate the end of the Brexit transitional period on the 31st of December 2020, 13% have made plans.

8.8 Wild Salmon and Sea Trout – Recreational Fishing

Key Messages

Markets

• The majority of wild salmon/sea trout businesses (71%) temporarily closed or paused operation during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
• 56% of businesses experienced a decrease in turnover of more than 50%.
• 92% of wild salmon/sea trout businesses did not find any new markets to export to or new buyers during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Finance

• 63% of respondents reported that their ability to access financial resources during the coronavirus outbreak stayed the same.
• 54% of wild salmon/sea trout businesses were able to cover both fixed and variable costs during the Covid-19 period.
• 44% of businesses did not rely on government support to survive through the Covid-19 period, while 10% relied solely and 40% relied partly on government support.
• 38% were very confident that they would be able to continue to operate for the next 12 months, with 46% being fairly confident.

Workforce

• 83% of wild salmon/sea trout businesses source their workers locally. However, 15% of operators source their workers from Scotland but not locally. The rest of respondents source their workers from the rest of the UK.
• 48% of businesses furloughed some of their workforce, 17% decreased working hours, 4% recruited staff, 4% laid off staff and 2% increased working hours.

Readiness for Second Wave and Brexit

• 77% have made no preparatory plans anticipating a second wave of Covid-19, while just 23% have made plans.
• 94% have made no preparatory plans to anticipate the end of the Brexit transitional period on the 31st of December 2020, 6% have made plans.

8.9 Wild Trout and Coarse Fishing – Recreational Fishing

Key Messages

Markets

• The majority of wild trout/coarse fishing businesses (57%) temporarily closed or paused operation during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
• 29% of businesses experienced a decrease in turnover of more than 50%.
• 71% of wild trout/coarse fishing businesses did not find any new markets to export to or new buyers during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Finance

• 43% of respondents reported that their ability to access financial resources during the coronavirus outbreak stayed the same.
• 57% of wild trout/coarse fishing businesses were not able to cover both fixed and variable costs during the Covid-19 period.
• 29% of businesses did not rely on government support to survive through the Covid-19 period, while 14% relied solely and 57% relied partly on government support.
• 29% were very confident that they would be able to continue to operate for the next 12 months, with a further 29% being fairly confident.

Workforce

• 86% of wild trout/coarse fishing businesses source their workers locally. However, 14% of operators source their workers from Scotland but not locally. The rest of respondents source their workers from the rest of the UK.
• 57% of businesses furloughed some of their workforce, 29% recruited staff for the short term, 14% decreased working hours and 14% increased working hours.

Readiness for Second Wave and Brexit

• 71% have made no preparatory plans anticipating a second wave of Covid-19, while just 29% have made plans.
• 86% have made no preparatory plans to anticipate the end of the Brexit transitional period on the 31st of December 2020, 14% have made plans.