European Fisheries Grants

The European Union operated a fisheries grant scheme for some years. The European Fisheries Fund (EFF) was replaced by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) in 2014, which was in turn replaced by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) in 2021. The UK no longer takes part in these funds following Brexit.

The EFF offered grants to the fishing industries of EU member countries until 2013. These grants had one principle aim: to help the sustainable development of the European fisheries sector.

Funds

The EFF had £111 million available for the UK. Each of the four UK governments had a share of this amount:

• Wales - £14 million
• Northern Ireland - £14.5 million
• England - £38.5 million
• Scotland - £44 million

Suitable Projects

There were various projects that attracted EFF funding. Among these was the modernisation of fishing vessels. Owners could seek grants to buy and improve fishing gear, and to reduce the effect that fishing has on the environment.

Other projects include support for communities that depend on fishing; marketing fish products more effectively; improving the quality of fish products; developing aquaculture and fish farming schemes; and improving facilities at fishing ports.

Interested parties should now contact their national government about the domestic fisheries schemes that replaced EU funding in the UK, such as the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme run by the MMO in England. Check GOV.UK and the devolved governments’ websites for current schemes.

Grant Eligibility Finder

Tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application.

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EFF Cross-Border Projects

It was possible to submit an application for an EFF grant that covered more than one government in the UK. A project could also involve all four UK areas. This route closed with the end of EU funding.

Such a proposal went first to the UK Marine Management Organisation (MMO). Each of the governments made a separate decision about the project. The MMO then discussed with the governments which one of them should lead the project and be the point of contact.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

EU Aid

EU Aid is a related fisheries grant scheme. Each EU member state must monitor and enforce the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This can prove costly. Enforcement bodies in EU member states can therefore apply for funds from EU Aid.

The MMO coordinated such applications for help in the UK. Each year, the MMO asked UK enforcement bodies if they needed money for anticipated costs. The MMO collated the requests and submitted them to the European Commission. The Commission then decided whether to issue grants to assist CFP enforcement.

UK enforcement bodies no longer have access to EU Aid funding following Brexit.

Fisheries Challenge Fund

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) gave money to the MMO for a further grant scheme, the Fisheries Challenge Fund. Strictly speaking, this money was not from the EU. But the Fisheries Challenge Fund related to the CFP. This fund no longer appears to be running: check GOV.UK for current fisheries science and management funding.

The purpose of the Fisheries Challenge Fund was to improve the management of fisheries and help workers become involved in fishing industry research.

The total money available was £70,000. Grant applicants had to submit ideas for projects that meet the CFP and DEFRA intention to provide sustainable fisheries. Projects must also aim to solve a fisheries management problem.

The grants could assist with analysis; research; social and economic studies; and biological issues. Applicants had to state what contribution they intend to make to the project. This needn’t be money. Instead, it can be in the form of time and experience.

Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), now known as Advisory Councils, are EU bodies that the UK is no longer part of following Brexit. The UK government regarded such support as vital.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Grant Eligibility Finder lets you tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application. Try it now →