UK: Maritime and Fisheries Fund (NI) 2022-2023

Deadline: 31-Dec-22

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is now inviting applications for its Maritime and Fisheries Fund (NI) 2022-2023 (MFF(NI)) to support maritime and fisheries activity and help deliver the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Funding Information

• Up to £5,000
• £5,000 to £30,000
• £30,000 to EU thresholds

Targets and Benefits

• Your project must have targets and benefits that can be achieved directly by the project. Further details of the types of targets and benefits you should consider can be found in the individual guidance notes depending on the type of project you are applying for.
• Targets and benefits help you and DAERA measure the success of your project so they should be specific to your project, measurable, achievable, realistic, and have timescales or deadlines. 
• If you do not meet the targets and benefits originally agreed and set out in the Offer Letter issued to you by DAERA then the level of achievement of the targets and benefits will be considered. DAERA will take a proportionate approach to this consideration and where possible work with you to address the issues identified. DAERA must protect the public funding elements of the MFF (NI) scheme and any match funding wherever possible. Because of this, recovery of funding paid to you, or the withholding of any outstanding funding may occur, if it is considered necessary.

Activities 

• You can apply for funding to:
  • improve the energy efficiency of your gear or vessel
  • meet certain aspects of the landing obligation (note – only one gear replacement can be funded per vessel under the MFF (NI) scheme)
  • expand your business into new markets and find new ways of increasing productivity and throughput
  • improve health and safety on board and on shore
  • boost the value and quality of your product including ways to use unwanted catch
  • improve fishing ports, landing sites, auction halls and shelters
  • try innovations in fisheries, the maritime sector and aquaculture
  • marketing measures 
  • process fishery and aquaculture products 
  • start an advisory service 
  • start a partnership between scientists and fishermen 
  • create jobs within eligible areas
  • create social dialog 
  • create support for the systems of allocation of fishing opportunities 
  • create production and marketing plans 
  • implement conservation measures and regional cooperation 
  • limit the impact of fishing on the marine environment and adapt fishing methods to protect species 
  • support innovation that could conserve marine biological resources, protect and restore marine biodiversity and ecosystems 
  • improve inland fishing including health and safety and value of catches
  • aid inland aquatic fauna and flora 
  • productive investments in aquaculture 
  • management, relief and advisory services for aquaculture farm projects that increase the potential of aquaculture sites 
  • create innovation in aquaculture

Eligibility Criteria

• You can usually apply for the scheme if you’re at least one of the following, but you should read the specific guidance for your particular type of project:
  • the owner of a Northern Ireland registered fishing vessel and you fish commercially from a port based in Northern Ireland. 
  • fisherwoman, or spouse or legal partner of a fisherman
  • a producer organization, inter-branch organization or a public or semi-public organization 
  • an aquaculture business or organization
  • an organization of fishermen or fisherwomen
  • involved in production, processing and marketing of fisheries and aquaculture products
  • non-governmental organizations 
  • an association, including new aquaculture farmers 
  • universities and research institutes 
  • Micro, small and medium-sized businesses
  • Scientific organizations working in the maritime sectors
  • Public-private partnerships 

For more information, visit Maritime and Fisheries Fund.