Well, the aid amount per beneficiary will be calculated by multiplying the amount of fish, in kilograms, caught in 2020, by €0.98, up to a maximum ceiling of €5,000 per vessel.

The measure seeks to address the loss of income suffered by fishermen during the pandemic, or at least partially, due to the restrictive measures that the government had introduced in order to limit the spread. This will be done by tackling the liquidity needs of fishing vessel owners, to continue their activities during and after COVID-19. The Commission found that the scheme was in line with the conditions of the Temporary Framework and it is crucial to note that the scheme will only be granted until the end of December 2021.

After airports and trade routes across the world were shut down, the price of fish across the Maltese islands decreased by almost half. Experts within the industry said that the problem for those who fish began early in the pandemic outbreak, when government started closing down places of interest and restaurants, to limit the spread.