Vaccinations
A year on, it is beyond frustrating to find ourselves once again in a lockdown. However, this third (and hopefully final) lockdown is thankfully accompanied by three approved vaccines and the most ambitious vaccination programme across the globe. At the time of writing the UK is currently vaccinating just over 200,000 people per day and each and every day that number is increasing.
The target of two million doses per week is certainly an ambitious one, but one that must be the floor, not the ceiling. The necessity to roll out the vaccine at speed means we must push beyond this target and aim from 4-6 million doses per week. Only by deploying the armed forces to help with creating 24/7 vaccination hubs and utilising our extensive and comprehensive logistics networks can we hope to achieve such a target and return the whole country to normal before the Spring.
Each day in lockdown is only serving its purpose if we can ramp up our vaccination numbers and end the suffering and sacrifice that so many have endured over the last twelve months. Of course, this will be challenging but if the UK had the foresight not to join the EU vaccination scheme, we should have the confidence to vaccinate any and all and end this nightmare.
Fishing
The UK-EU trade deal has been met with mixed feelings from the fishing community. For those businesses in aquaculture sector (breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants) the new deal has been welcomed as one that maintains access to EU markets and creates a new opportunity for this sector to grow. For the more traditional fishing fleets, the deal has been a mix of disappointment and relief. Relief a no-deal scenario was not foisted upon an industry that relies heavily upon European market access. But disappointment the sector’s asks have not all been delivered immediately.
However, it is important to recognise that reaching a deal is not an endpoint, but a starting point in which the relationship will evolve and expand for the betterment of each party over time. For now, Brixham can look forward to gaining a significant share of the new £100m fisheries fund, control access to our waters and the renewed determination of Government to support this long-overlooked sector.
By 2026, the end of the fisheries adjustment period, the UK should be able to boast an increased fleet size, a large domestic market and an acceptance from our EU friends that no European vessel will be granted access to our 6-12-mile limit.
Farming
After twelve months of being rooted to one spot, we have all become more aware of the origin, quality and nature of our food. The move towards organic and ‘buy local’ are incredibly welcome steps which will bolster our local economy and support those who have for generations cultivated and stewarded our beautiful landscape.
But their value is not just the food they produce but the role in which they can help combat climate change. Regenerative Agriculture (as shown on the Netflix documentary ‘Kiss the Ground’) is where farmers change their techniques to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lock in carbon into the soil, thereby improving food quality and effectively creating the world’s most effective carbon-capturing storage.
The UK’s hosting of COP26 offers the UK an opportunity to promote initiatives like regenerative agriculture which are part of the solution to tackling climate emissions and reducing temperatures.
Technology can only take us so far and we should look at these new operating techniques to bring us in line with our domestic and international ambitions.