The UK Government is spending an extra £ 23 million to compensate British fishermen for declining earnings in the Brexit’s exports of fish. The money, which has to cover losses incurred since 1 January, is intended for small and medium – sized enterprises which can show a ‘substantial loss’ in exports to the European Union. Companies can obtain a maximum amount of £ 100,000 per holding.

The export of fish has been difficult since the British left the customs union. For example, customs forms must be completed and all kinds of health checks carried out. On Monday, fishermen protested at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office because of the troubles with export.

According to the Trade Association Scotland Food and Drink Association, exporters of fish can miss more than a million pounds of sales per day. James Withers, head of the industry association, states that the fish market in the British fishing port Peterhead, Europe’s largest fish market, has become ‘just a ghost town’ so far, 18 percent less fish have been landed in Peterhead this year than last year in the same period.

The British government claims that there are teething problems, which are exacerbated by the coronary artery disease, which has also affected the restaurant sector. Environment Minister George Eustice promised support to the fisheries sector on Tuesday.

‘We continue to work closely with the fisheries sector to ensure that it is supported and can continue to fish and contribute to the economies of our coastal sites’, says Eustice.