Seafood Capacity Building Scheme

This scheme supports industry members to participate in BIM-led international field missions with the objective of increasing industry knowledge or supporting technology transfer in the following areas:

• Sustainability
• Fisheries conservation
• Innovation
• Competitiveness

All field missions are designed and approved by BIM, and at least one BIM staff member accompanies each field mission.

Current Call under the EMFAF Operational Programme 2020 -2027

Opening Date:

29 July 2025

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications:

15 December 2025

Budget Available for This Call

TBC

EMFAF Specific Objectives

1.1 Strengthening Economically, Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Fishing Activities.
2.1 Promoting sustainable aquaculture activities, especially strengthening the competitiveness of aquaculture production, while ensuring that the activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term.
2.2 Promoting marketing, quality and added value of fisheries and aquaculture products, as well as processing of those products

Geographical Area Covered

Republic of Ireland

Eligible Applicants

• Industry members operating in the fisheries, aquaculture, aquatech or seafood processing sectors.
• Aquaculture operators must have an Aquaculture license
• Seafood processing businesses must have SFPA registration

Aquatech Companies have additional requirements in order to avail of this Scheme, please contact Damien Toner below.

Amounts Granted

The support rate under this scheme is 50%.

Eligible costs

• Airline tickets (economy class only)
  • The grant offered will be based on a quote BIM obtains from its travel partner from Dublin to the destination, return. If you purchase cheaper flights, the grant paid will be limited to the cheaper cost. If your flights are more expensive, the grant paid will be capped at the amount offered.
  • Flights must be from an Irish international airport to the field mission destination, return. Flights to/from other locations are not eligible, even if the person attended the field mission having flown in from elsewhere.
  • You may wish to fly earlier, or return a little later in order to conduct other business. This is allowed (as long as no advocacy or lobbying is carried out in this time) but flights must be within 1 week of the scheduled field mission i.e. the outward flight can be no earlier than 7 calendar days before the start date of the field mission, and the return flight can be no later than 7 calendar days after the end of the field mission.
• Subsistence at a maximum of Public Service rates (the eligible subsistence amount will be calculated by BIM based on the destination and the duration of the field mission).

Ineligible costs

• Standard operational costs of beneficiaries, including employee salaries
• Computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, or similar equipment.
• Travel and subsistence except as provided for above.
• Conference/Event entrance fees
• Travel for the purposes of advocacy or lobbying

How to apply

BIM organises a limited number of field missions annually, in line with its strategic work programme. Clients are informed as necessary prior to these events.

If you are attending an approved field mission, you will automatically receive an offer of grant aid. Following the trip, you would need to submit a claim form which will be sent to you with the offer of grant aid.

For more Information

For enquiries regarding the grant aid available, please email: