In aftermath of harsh winter storms battering the UK’s coastline, fishermen are experiencing difficulties heading out to sea.
Families undergoing financial hardship have received aid from Fishermen's Mission, which has appealed for donations and helped families pay essential bills, BBC Newsinformed.
David Dickens, chief executive of the mission, said the appeal was concentrated on the "basic welfare needs" of fishermen and their families.
"There have been distressing stories of people living without central heating or hot water and families living on soup and bread because there hasn't been any money coming in for three months," he said.
Added to the fact that fishermen have not been able to spend time at sea for months, Dickens explained that salt levels of inshore waters have been affected by the amount of freshwater running off saturated land and lots of fish have hightailed to deeper waters.
Therefore, the concern for the industry is just how long the consequences will be felt, as there have been some permanent changes driven by shifting gravel and sandbanks.
In order to provide temporary solutions, the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) met with ministers and initially secured agreement that fishermen would have access to the government's storm relief fund.
Fisheries Minister George Eustice announced these funds would be released to contribute towards the cost of lost or damaged equipment such as crab and lobster pots.
The minister stated that the support could be worth up to £5,000 for individual fishermen.
NFFO chief executive Barrie Deas pointed out: "Fishermen are used to being unable to get to sea for a fair bit of January but not to get to sea until March is a big problem.”
And he added: "The effects are going to be felt for a long time. Obviously the more support that is given now, the quicker the industry will be able to get back on its own two feet."
Further measures were also taken such as in Northern Ireland, where £400,000 was pledged and a taskforce has been set up to support the industry and in Scotland, where the government also set aside £400,000 to support the creel industry. Besides, the Welsh government promised to help repair or replace damaged equipment.