Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency in conjunction with the seven Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), today (Tuesday 22 April 2025) confirmed that the Coastal Community Development Scheme is now open for applications. This follows the recent launch by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, T.D., of the Scheme.
Over its lifetime, 2025-2029, the Scheme will provide funding of €15 million to successful applicants under the community-led local development initiative, whose primary focus is to enhance the economic opportunities and social sustainability of coastal areas, many of which are dependent on fisheries and aquaculture. A total of €2.1 million funding has been allocated for 2025.
The Scheme opens for 2025 applications on Tuesday 22 April 2025 and remains open for four weeks, closing at 23.59 on Tuesday 20 May 2025. It is important to note that only projects that can be completed by 31 October 2025 will be considered eligible under this round. Applicants can apply for funding for projects that won’t meet this deadline under later calls.
Applications for funding under this Scheme must be made via the new online BIM portal for grants. It will be a competitive call – meaning if an applicant is deemed eligible, they will then be ranked according to the criteria set out by their respective FLAG board and funding will be allocated to the top-ranking projects in order, until all funds are allocated.
FLAG funding is potentially available to individuals, Small Scale Coastal Fishing and other fishing vessel owners, micro or small enterprises in the Blue Economy, charities, community groups and fisheries collectives, who propose projects that meet the objectives of the local development strategies.
There are seven local development strategies, which set out the priorities for funding in their area, covering all coastal areas with a reliance on fishing and aquaculture namely; FLAG Northeast (Louth, Meath, Dublin), FLAG Southeast (Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford), FLAG South (Cork), FLAG Southwest (Kerry, Limerick), FLAG West (Galway, Clare), FLAG Northwest (Mayo, Sligo) and FLAG North (Donegal). Each strategy is available on www.bim.ie/fisheries/funding/fisheries-local-action-groups-flags/
Only projects located within 10km of the coast (high water mark) are eligible for funding, however, in exceptional circumstances enterprises or initiatives located further inland that have a direct impact on the coast may also be supported.
We encourage potential applicants to contact one of our dedicated National FLAG Network Officers or check the BIM website for online information events. We will be sharing video tutorials on how to use the online grants system, and our team of Regional Development Officers can also help or put you in touch with our dedicated grant support service.
All information relating to the Scheme and contact details for our FLAG and Regional Development officers is available on www.bim.ie
The scheme is implemented under Ireland’s Seafood Development Programme, jointly funded by the Irish Government and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).