Guidance for improving health and safety
Updated 9 June 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fisheries-and-seafood-scheme-guidance/guidance-for-improving-health-and-safety
1. Introduction
Funding in this area will support high standards of health and safety. Funding can be applied for the following measures:
- M3 Enhancing the quality and/or the adding of value of aquaculture products (health and safety in aquaculture)
- M23 Improving Health and Safety on board vessels
- M34 Processing of fisheries and aquaculture products (health and safety in processing)
Please note this information is for guidance only and is not exhaustive or binding. If you are unsure whether an item is eligible, please contact MMO.
When applying for funding for changes onboard a vessel you must engage with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to ensure works meet the standards for fishing vessel modifications, including MIN593 (F) pre-approval by MCA.
Details of local surveyors and offices can be found on the MCA website.
We will send details of submitted applications to MCA as soon as they are received for review but recommend that you discuss the project proposal with MCA before submitting an application to MMO. All projects on-board a vessel will be reviewed by both MMO and MCA.
For projects that have the potential to impact vessel stability we require you to supply evidence at the claims stage to demonstrate that you have fully engaged with MCA throughout the project and all works undertaken meet MCA safety and stability requirements. No funds will be paid out unless we receive this confirmation which will be verified with MCA.
2. Projects you can apply for
3. M3 Enhancing the quality and/or the adding of value of aquaculture products (health and safety projects)
3.1 Projects should protect aquaculture workers by increasing physical safety or supporting mental health and can include:
- Investments in safety equipment on board aquaculture vessels
-
Investments that improve employee working conditions to reduce the likelihood of occupational accidents or injuries
- Investments to support mental health.
3.2 Projects excluded from funding
Any projects where the primary focus does not relate to the health, safety and wellbeing within an aquaculture setting.
3.3 Result indicators
To measure the benefits delivered by projects under M3, Enhancing the quality and/or the adding of value of aquaculture products (health and safety) the following indicators are applicable:
3.4 M3: Enhancing the quality and/or the adding of value of aquaculture products
| Indicator | Information you must provide |
|---|---|
| Change in the number of work-related injuries and accidents | The number of work-related injuries and accidents in the past 12 months, before the project. |
| The change in work related injuries and accidents will be used to determine the project’s success. |
Not all FaSS result indicators will be applicable to your project. You will be asked to choose the most suitable indictor to demonstrate the benefits of your project.
Once the project is complete you will be required to provide evidence as part of post project monitoring to show the actual benefits achieved by your project.
4. M23 Improving Health and Safety on board vessels
For M23 projects should protect fishers, save lives, and prevent accidents at sea by increasing physical safety and can include:
- Investments to reduce the likelihood of man overboard accidents.
- Investments to improve vessel stability.
- Investments to reduce the likelihood of entanglement.
Reducing man overboard risk
Modifications made to a vessel that enhance its safety features, design, and operational procedures to reduce the likelihood of individuals accidentally falling into the water. These improvements may include measures such as better deck layouts, entanglement prevention, improved railing and guardrail systems, non-slip surfaces, enhanced safety training including risk assessment guidance to crews to ensure best practice on watertight integrity and catch load weights, and the installation of safety barriers or devices that help prevent falls during fishing activities, especially in challenging or rough conditions.
Improvements to stability
Modifications or enhancements made to a vessel to improve its stability, which may include measures to increase its ability to get back on an even keel and remain watertight after having suffered a heel and remain upright, resist capsizing or excessive heeling in adverse conditions, such as rough weather or when encountering obstructed gear, use of innovative technologies to monitor fish loads/haul weight and ensure these are within a range not to affect vessel stability or, ensuring the vessel does not take on excessive water or lose buoyancy.
For advice on the eligibility of specific pieces of health, safety and wellbeing equipment please contact the MMO Grants Team.
Support shall not be granted more than once during the programming period for the same type of equipment on the same English-registered fishing vessel.
4.1 Funding will not be provided for:
- Any piece of mandatory equipment as detailed in the MCA Code of Practice for Safety of Small Fishing Vessels
- Any piece of mandatory equipment as issued by the certifying authority for recreational boats, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). Please contact the Grants Team at the MMO for further information.
- Machines directly related to assist the activity of fishing.
- Any project that increases the vessel’s ability to catch fish (including but not limited to sonar and chart plotters).
- Projects that increase the power output in kW of the main propulsion engine of the fishing vessel
- Projects that increase the size or capacity of fish rooms.
Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. For advice on the eligibility of specific pieces of health, safety and wellbeing equipment please contact the MMO’s Grants Team.
All vessels under 12m will be eligible for 80% grant funding under the M23 health and safety measure irrespective of their method of fishing.
For Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) it must contribute to reducing the risk of, or aid recovery of MOB situations including entanglement. The list below is non exhaustive but categorises some common PPE items and whether they would be deemed eligible or not eligible for funding. Further, PPE will only be deemed eligible if it is not mandatory for your vessel in one with MCA’s code of practice.
| Eligible | Not Eligible | |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) | Flare | |
| Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) | Nitrite Gloves | |
| Safety Knives | Boots | |
| Searchlight | Head Torch | |
| Life Raft (U7m only) | Gloves / Gauntlets | |
| MOB engine cut off system | Bib & braces | |
| Personal Flotation Device (PFD) | UV Sunglasses | |
| Life Jacket | Thermal Socks | |
| MOB ladder | Thermal Hat | |
| VHF Radio | Jacket / Thermal Jacket | |
| Wellingtons | ||
| Smock | ||
| Thermal Base Layer | ||
| Neoprene Cuffs / Sleeves | ||
| Body Harness | ||
| Butt Pad | ||
| Cotton Knee Pads | ||
| Binoculars | ||
| Smoke Signal | ||
| Waterproof Torch | ||
| Chart Plotter | ||
| Radar/AIS | ||
| Waders |
4.2 Result indicators
To measure the benefits delivered by projects under M23, Improving Health and Safety (on board fishing vessels), the following indicators are applicable:
4.3 M23 Improving Health and Safety (on board fishing vessels)
| Indicator | Information you must provide |
|---|---|
| Change in the number of work-related injuries and accidents | The number of work-related injuries and accidents in the past 12 months, before the project |
| The change in work related injuries and accidents will be used to determine the project’s success | |
| Employment maintained (FTE) in the fisheries sector or complementary activities | Number of employees working in your business before the project Expected number of employees working in your business after the project |
| The expected and actual change in number of employees will be used to determine the project’s success. | |
| Change in net profits | Current profit (£) Expected profit (£) after the project Company accounts for the last 3 years |
| The expected and actual change in net profits will be used to determine the project’s success. |
Not all FaSS result indicators will be applicable to your project. You will be asked to choose the most suitable indicator to demonstrate the benefits of your project.
Once the project is complete you will be required to provide evidence as part of post project monitoring to show the actual benefits achieved by your project.
5. M34 Processing of fisheries and aquaculture products (health and safety projects)
Projects should protect workers in seafood processing by increasing physical safety or supporting mental health and can include:
- Investments in safety equipment within seafood processing facilities and premises
- Investments to improve the health and wellbeing of employees of processing enterprises.
- Investments that improve employee working conditions to reduce the likelihood of occupational accidents or injuries
5.1 Projects excluded from funding
- Any projects where the primary focus does not relate to the health, safety and wellbeing within a processing setting.
5.2 Result indicators
To measure the benefits delivered by projects under M34, Processing of fisheries and aquaculture products (health and safety projects), the following indicators are applicable:
5.3 M34 Processing of fisheries and aquaculture products (health and safety projects)
| Indicator | Information you must provide |
|---|---|
| Change in the number of work-related injuries and accidents | The number of work-related injuries and accidents in the past 12 months, before the project. |
| The change in work related injuries and accidents will be used to determine the project’s success. | |
| Change in net profits | Current profit (£) Expected profit (£) after the project Company accounts for the last 3 years |
| The expected and actual change in net profits will be used to determine the project’s success |
Not all FaSS result indicators will be applicable to your project. You will be asked to choose the most suitable indicator to demonstrate the benefits of your project.
Once the project is complete you will be required to provide evidence as part of post project monitoring to show the actual benefits achieved by your project.
6. Funding available
The minimum and maximum funding available for measures relating to health and safety are outlined below:
6.1 Limits of Funding Available in FaSS Measures
| FaSS Measure | Minimum Grant Value Available (£) | Maximum Grant Value Available (£) |
|---|---|---|
| M3 Enhancing the quality and/or the adding of value of aquaculture products | 500 | 70,000 |
| M23 Improving Health and Safety | 500 | 100,000 |
| M34 Processing of fisheries and aquaculture products | 1,000 | 150,000 |
Every project will require a level of match funding. The level of funding you are required to provide will depend on your business or organisation type.
It is your responsibility to source and provide match funding, such as business loans or cash resources. You must state the source of funding when applying. Before committing your private resources, we recommend you seek independent financial advice.
The amount of money you can apply for will depend on your business or organisation type. There are maximum allocations allowed for each applicant are outlined below:
| Applicant Type | Fass% | Match Funding% |
|---|---|---|
| Public | 75 | 25 |
| Private (Micro Entity) | 60 | 40 |
| Private (SME) | 50 | 50 |
| Private (Non-SME) | 30 | 70 |
| Private (SSCF) | 80 | 20 |
| Private (Fishermen’s Associations) | 75 | 25 |
| Private (PO’s) | 75 | 25 |
Grant Rates Key:
All vessels under 12m will be eligible for 80% grant funding under the M23 health and safety measure irrespective of their method of fishing.
SSCF - Small scale coastal fishing – vessels under 12m and not using towed gear;
PO - Producer Organisation;
SME - Small and medium enterprises.