£9m fisheries funding boost for English seafood businesses
Over 500 projects in the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors have been awarded more than £9m of Government funding to support efforts to sustain and grow England’s seafood industry.
The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of Defra, was originally launched in 2021 to replace the previous European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
Following the scheme’s initial success, which saw these projects supported across England in 2020 and early 2021 at least £6 million in funding has been secured every year to April 2025, providing long-term investment to the fishing sector.
Projects have been supported around the English coastline, ranging from ice bins and safety railings on vessels through to harbour improvements and production equipment for processing plants.
Tom McCormack, Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), said: “We want to support our fishing and seafood sectors to continue to develop, adapt and ultimately succeed as we move forward into our new era as an independent coastal state.
“We look forward to working with more applicants from across England this year and continuing to support our fishing and seafood communities through the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme beyond 2022-23.”
Through the scheme, funding of up to 80% of a project’s costs can been made to:
- Fishing related activities, including energy improvements on vessels
- Help diversify and find new forms of income
- Improve the resilience and sustainability of shore-based facilities
- Support cooperative activities, building capabilities and advisory services
- Achieve good environmental status through the conservation and restoration of the marine environment
- Improved health and safety projects.
Improvements to the 2022-23 scheme include simplified guidance, enhanced levels of funding for micro-entities and funding that is better targeted at the sector’s needs.
Details of projects awarded FaSS funding to date, as well as guidance for new applicants can be found on the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme page.