WEYMOUTH’S charter boats have been ordered to stop operating just two days after being told they could resume operations after lockdown.

Charter boats offer activities such as angling, diving and sightseeing, bringing in millions of pounds to the local economy.

However, unlike the local fishing fleet which received industry-specific coronavirus grants from the Government, charter boats have not been eligible for financial support so far.

Last week the majority of charter skippers received the positive news that they can resume operations - but the industry has been hit hard - and now secretary of the Professional Boatman’s Association and charter boat owner Lyle Stantiford said he and other operators are "hoping and praying" for support from Dorset Council's discretionary business fund, after new guidance issued by DEFRA has scuppered their fresh start back on the water.

He said: "Last Thursday DEFRA issued some guidelines that said 'skipper charter operations should not operate'.

"Subsequently just two days after charter operations were allowed to commence by Dorset Council a new notice to mariners was issued and once again we have been forced to stop operating."

According to Mr Stantiford the irony in the situation is that, frustratingly, most other UK harbours did not order charter boats to cease operations during lockdown.

However since the new guidance was issued by DEFRA more harbours have now imposed restrictions.

He explained: "A huge amount of harbours never enforced or interpreted the guidance to affect and subsequently restrict charter operations. In fact the only harbours I’m aware of that restricted their charter operations were Weymouth, West Bay, Lyme Regis, Looe, and Whitby.

"Many harbours including Portland didn’t interpret the guidance this way and allowed charter operations to continue.

"It's crazy - but more harbours have now reacted to this and stopped operations.

"We are insured and have put strict sanitation, risk assessments, customer guidelines and disclaimers in place."

Mr Stantiford said the majority of his trade comes from serious anglers, who visit specifically for multi-day fishing trips and bring in money to the tourism economy.

He added: "We are now finding many regular customers are going elsewhere simply because they can’t come to Weymouth and start enjoying their pasttime once more. No revenue for us or for the borough."

Mr Stantiford voices his frustrations at having to pul the plug in trade at the same time as shops reopen.

"Since Monday nearly all other businesses have been able to trade and we are sat tied up," he added.

"You have a scenario where most other marine based businesses have either not stopped operating or are now returning to operations, for example ferry services."

Many of those businesses allowed to reopen will have recieved Government support - something the charter boat industry is still "hoping and praying for."

"We still remain unsupported financially by local or central government," the skipper added.

"To be honest we’re still hoping and praying for support from Dorset Council's discretionary fund.

"We’ve had no customers and no local authority help and the bills are still all there."

Another charter skipper, Ben Taylor, owner of Weymouth Bay Rib charter, said he is also "at the mercy" of Dorset Council. 

"As we have no rateable premises we have been unable to receive any of the Government funding," Mr Taylor said.

"Although the local authorities are aware of this, there has been no discounted rates on fees and moorings. Failure to pay these fees would result in losing the business completely.

"I am literally at the mercy of the local authority to recognise my business for the discretionary grant."

A Dorset Council spokesman said: "Each business is different and depending on the size of the business and the losses they’ve experienced since March means they may or may not meet the eligibility criteria. Each application will be looked at on a case by case basis."