Guidance

Apply for the UK Seafood Fund: Infrastructure Scheme round 4

Find out how to apply for round 4: recreational sea fishing.

This guidance was withdrawn on

Applications for Round 4 of the UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme are now closed. Find out about funding available through the UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme.

Up to £1 million in funding is available to develop and improve infrastructure and promote sustainable growth. To get funding, you must apply for a grant.

You can apply for:

  • a minimum of £10,000
  • a maximum of £100,000

This is a competitive scheme which is part of the UK Seafood Fund.

When to apply

Round 4: recreational sea fishing is now open for applications.

You must submit your application before 12pm on 19 June 2023.

Who can apply

The following types of organisations can apply:

  • public bodies (including local authority ports and public charities)
  • angling clubs, trusts or federations engaged in recreational sea fishing only
  • private small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), for example charter boats that support recreational activities
  • private non-SMEs
  • private trusts and foundations
  • trust ports

If you are not a public body or a trust port, your organisation must only be involved in the recreational sea fishing sector.

If you are not a public body, you must be registered with at least one of the following:

  • Companies House, as an active incorporated organisation
  • Charities Commission Registries, as an active charity
  • HMRC, as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC)

You can apply for this scheme even if you have previously applied for other UK Seafood Fund schemes.

You can work with other eligible organisations to make a joint application.

You must nominate a lead applicant to apply. They will receive the funding if your application is successful. They will also be responsible for running the project and reporting on its progress.

Projects that will be funded

We expect to fund projects that will improve:

  • piers, harbours and other onshore sea fishing areas
  • ponds, canals and other bodies of water connected to onshore sea fishing
  • slipways, berths and moorings for boat angling
  • docking for pontoons and floating walkways
  • paths to access sea fishing areas
  • facilities such as toilets and disabled access in onshore sea fishing areas and in angling clubs
  • accessibility modifications on vessels, such as disabled access on charter boats
  • infrastructure required for angling tournaments
  • training and upskilling for catch-and-release and other methods of sustainable fishing, including diversification of species
  • the use of renewable energy and reduction of carbon emissions

Match funding

You need to provide match funding for your project. You must include evidence that you’ll provide match funding when you make your application.

Your match funding must be in pounds sterling. You cannot use ‘in-kind contributions’, such as staff time or the use of existing equipment, as match funding.

The amount of match funding you need to provide will depend on your organisation type. The maximum amount of funding you can receive, as a percentage of the total project cost, is:

  • 75% for public bodies (including local authority ports, public charities, community bodies and public trust ports)
  • 75% for angling clubs, trusts or federations
  • 50% for private SMEs (including charter boats and private trust ports)
  • 30% for private non-SME (including charter boats and private trust ports)
  • 50% for private trusts and foundations

Your match funding must not be from another grant scheme.

Duplicate funding

We will reject your application if your project is already funded from another source. Defra will work with colleagues in the devolved administrations to make sure there is no duplication of funding.

How to apply

You must apply using Atamis, Defra’s online tendering system.

Find the opportunity listing for the Infrastructure Scheme on Atamis.

Read the Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the opportunity listing. This provides complete information about the tendering process, including eligibility and assessment criteria.

Register on Atamis

  1. Go to the Atamis website.

  2. Select ‘Register interest’.

  3. Enter your organisation and user details, then select ‘Submit’.

You’ll get an email with a link to set up a password.

If you have used the portal before, select ‘Log in’ from the landing page, then enter your username and password.

If you need help, email support@atamis.co.uk or telephone 029 2279 0052.

You can send any questions about the scheme using Atamis.

Outcome of your application

Defra will not assess your application until after the closing date.

You’ll need to log in to Atamis to find out if your application has been successful.

Published 27 March 2023