Levy and Funding

Seafish is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDBP) set up under the Fisheries Act 1981 to improve efficiency and raise standards across the seafood industry. We are funded by a levy on the first sale of seafood products in the UK, including imported seafood.

Approximately 80% of our funding, therefore, comes in the form of levy collected from the seafood industry. A further 20% of our funding comes from earned income from projects we undertake on behalf of paying customers. Typically these organisations include both seafood companies commissioning research and development projects, or governments seeking bespoke advice into the economic and social impact of proposed policies.

Who pays the levy?

Seafish levy is due on all first-hand purchases of sea fish, shellfish, and sea fish products including fishmeal landed in the United Kingdom. A first-hand purchase takes place when product is purchased from:

• A fisherman or boat owner - however when such a purchase is made through or via a fish salesman/auctioneer, payment of levy due to Seafish is made by them but is recoverable from the purchaser. It will normally be charged by the fish salesman/auctioneer as a separate item on their customer's sales invoices.

• A foreign supplier - including direct imports, purchases made from UK cold stores; goods delivered duty paid; and purchases from EU countries, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

• Fish and shellfish farmers, growers and cultivators.

Levy is also due from any UK registered fishing vessel owner, fish and shellfish farmer, grower or cultivator who lands product in the United Kingdom for subsequent sale direct to a foreign customer, or who trans-ships product within British fishery limits.

Please note - levy is not charged on salmon and migratory trout. Levy is also not charged on canned or bottled fish, or sea fish products packed in a hermetically sealed container which is processed to inhibit microbial growth at ambient temperature.

There is a lot more detailed information available regarding the Seafish levy; click on the below links to read more:

Further information on levy for blue whiting, capelin and silver smelt

The 1981 Fisheries Act which established the Seafish levy

The schedule or current rates

Statutory changes to levy in 1999

Statutory Instrument 1996 No. 160

Levy Return Instructions and Forms

Instructions for completing Seafish Levy Return

Electronic Levy Return (XLS)

Printable Levy Return Forms in PDF format:

Form L1 Sea Fish

Form L2 Pelagic Fish

Form L3 Fishmeal

Form L5 Shellfish

Form L6 Salted & Cured

If you require any further information regarding the Seafish levy, please contact the person listed below that is most relevant to your location.

Tom Pithie
Scotland, Northern Ireland, North West England

Tel: 0131 524 8623
Fax: 0131 558 1442
Mob: 07876 035759
E-mail: t_pithie@seafish.co.uk

Mike Pilgrim
Southern England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands, Manchester, Liverpool and DN31 (Grimsby)

Tel: 01752 709450
Fax 01752 709450
Mob: 07876 035756
E-mail: m_pilgrim@seafish.co.uk

Des Kelly
South East England, London, East Anglia, East Midlands, North East England excluding post code DN31 (Grimsby)

Tel: 01727 862948
Fax: 01727 862948
Mob: 07876 035760
E-mail: d_kelly@seafish.co.uk