Grants are available for businesses involved in fishing, processing or aquaculture with the aim of strengthening the seafood supply chain through infrastructure projects.
The UK Seafood Fund: Infrastructure Scheme has been set up to fund projects that build capability across the UK seafood sector supply chain.
Grants are available through a competitive process. Up to £65 million in grant funding is available. Each successful applicant will be awarded a minimum of £250,000 and maximum of £5 million.
The scheme will fund projects that will improve:
- Designated landing sites and ports, to allow a greater proportion of the UK fleet to land produce.
- Processing and aquaculture systems and facilities.
- The use of renewable energy.
- The social and economic welfare of coastal communities.
Applicants can apply for funding if they are involved in fishing, processing or aquaculture and are:
- A public body (including trust ports, local authority ports and public charities).
- A private small to medium-sized enterprise (SME).
- A private non-SME.
- A fisherman's association.
- A private trust and foundation.
- A trade association.
- An officially recognised producer organisation.
Round one is open for applications until 24 May 2022.
How To Apply
The scheme is now open. Round one is open for applications from 29 March 2022 until 24 May 2022.
There will be another opportunity for processors to bid into the scheme later in 2022.
The scheme will have several rounds over the next two years. Each round will be designed in response to feedback and the development needs of the sector. The completion date for the scheme is currently 31 March 2024 but this may be extended into 2025.
More details can be accessed on the GOV UK website.