Two schemes to support the Irish fishing fleet have reopened: the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme and the Small-Scale Coastal Fishers Scheme, both of which provide grant aid to vessel owners for investment in their operations.
The schemes are implemented under Ireland’s €258 million Seafood Development Programme, which is jointly funded by the Irish government and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is responsible for administering the schemes.
The schemes are:
Sustainable Fisheries Scheme – 50% support for onboard investments made by eligible non-small-scale coastal fishing vessel owners to improve quality, energy efficiency and health and safety.
Closes Tuesday 30 December
Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries Scheme – 80% support for onshore and offshore investments made by eligible small-scale coastal fishing vessel owners.
Closes Tuesday 30 December
The Sustainable Fisheries Scheme is open to non-small-scale coastal fishing vessel owners, with grants available at 50%. Funding is available for technology and equipment to improve fish quality and handling, traceability, and improved hygiene, health and safety onboard vessels. Support for energy efficiency measures to reduce fuel consumption, lower fuel costs and the carbon footprint of vessels is also available.
The Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries Scheme (SCCF) provides a ‘one-stop shop’ with 80% grant aid for onshore investments. This could include adding value to their catch, through the purchase of processing equipment, investing in fishing gear to improve size/species selection, fish quality and traceability investments to support innovation, and energy efficiency upgrades.
Further information on the scheme including eligibility, grant amounts and deadlines, are available at bim.ie/fisheries/funding