Projects seeking less than £250,000 will be assessed on a first come, first served basis.
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More than £1m has been approved for fisheries and seafood projects in England during the first three months of the latest Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) funding round.
The scheme reopened on 13 April and is administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
According to the MMO, hundreds of applications have been submitted since the programme reopened. Funding remains available, and the organisation is seeking more applications from fishermen and small-scale businesses that may not previously have considered the scheme.
FaSS is open to businesses and organisations working in fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, marine conservation and related environmental activities.
A total of £6m has been ring-fenced for the English Small Scale Coastal Fleet. The MMO is also offering assistance to first-time applicants during the application process.
Grants may be used for projects such as improvements to shore-based facilities, vessel energy efficiency, health and safety measures, workforce development and marine habitat restoration. The programme can also support business diversification, advisory services and cooperation between industry participants.
The priorities for this year's funding round include labour and workforce development, community partnerships and infrastructure, the MMO said.
Applications seeking grants of £250,000 or more for measures covered by the funding rounds must be reviewed by a funding panel. The next deadline for higher-value projects is 4 September 2026, while an additional deadline has been scheduled for 13 November.
Projects seeking less than £250,000 will be assessed on a first come, first served basis.
“We’ve seen an encouraging response to the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, with hundreds of applications received and funding already approved for projects across England,” said Paul Errington, acting director of finance at the MMO.
“We’re particularly keen to hear from small-scale operators and fishermen who may not have considered applying yet, this funding is here for you, and we can support you through the application process. We’re also pleased to provide a new panel date for higher value submissions in November.”
FaSS is financed through the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, to which the UK government has committed more than £132m over the next five years. The wider fund will operate for 12 years and is planned to provide £304m in total, including around £132m up to the 2030-31 financial year.
