The U.K. government said it has GBP 132 million (USD 178.5 million, EUR 151.5 million) in funding available through its Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) that will go toward projects tailored to the seafood industry.
The government said GBP 132 million has been committed to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund over the next five years, with grants available to support projects within the seafood and coastal industries. Following stakeholder input, it has expanded the types of projects that it will grant funding to. Workforce development, health and safety, seafood processing, community partnerships and local regeneration, port and harbor infrastructure, and trade and market access projects are all on the table, according to the government.
“The sector told us what they wanted, and we listened. This scheme is the start of change, beginning with ring-fenced support for the small-scale coastal fleet, funding rounds to support higher value projects, and multi-year funding,” U.K. Fisheries Minister Angela Eagle said. “With GBP 132 million available over the next five years, the relaunched FaSS will help businesses and organizations of all sizes to build long-term resilience across the industry.”
Roughly GBP 6 million (USD 8.1 million, EUR 6.8 million) of the funding has been allocated specifically to small-scale coastal fisheries, and the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) encouraged small businesses and community organizations to work together “locally or regionally” to strengthen applications for funding.
“Whether that’s through safer vessels, better seafood processing facilities, stronger supply chains, or improved port infrastructure, this funding is designed to make a real and lasting difference,” Eagle said.
The Marine Management Organization (MMO) said it plans to provide “clear guidance, straightforward deadlines, and upfront criteria” to the grant application process, with smaller requests going through the MMO and proposals for grants larger than GBP 250,000 (USD 338,000, EUR 287,000) will be assessed by a panel.
“Since opening in 2021, FaSS has been incredibly successful with GBP 40 million [USD 54 million, EUR 46 million] invested in 1,892 projects supporting England’s catching, aquaculture, and processing sectors, as well as projects that continue to improve our marine environment,” MMO Acting Director of Finance Paul Errington said. “With this new funding, we can continue to build on the legacy of this scheme and ensure the long-term success and sustainability of key coastal industries and communities.”
