Photo by K. Mitch Hodge
Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a £3.25 million Marine Environment and Fisheries Fund, providing immediate financial support for fishing, aquaculture and marine stakeholders across the region.
Minister Andrew Muir announced the scheme opening on 29th July 2025, emphasising the urgency of applications as the funding operates on a one-year settlement basis and must be utilised by 31 March 2026.
Comprehensive stakeholder support
The Fund provides £3.25m financial support for fishing, aquaculture and other marine stakeholders and is designed to deliver benefits to fishermen, processing and aquaculture businesses, port authorities, inland fishers and stakeholders with environmental interests.
Minister Muir stressed the time-sensitive nature of the funding: “As the funding has been secured on a ‘one-year settlement’ basis only, I would encourage stakeholders to engage promptly with my department in order that applications are submitted as soon as possible.”
Green growth and environmental priorities
The fund includes specific allocations for environmental initiatives, with £0.75m for applications that positively impact on green-growth, decarbonisation of the fisheries sectors and, ultimately, the longer-term objective of progression towards a net-zero industry.
Additionally, £0.5m of the financial assistance is earmarked for projects that aim to physically preserve and restore the important Blue Carbon habitats within Northern Ireland’s territorial waters. These include seagrass beds, saltmarshes and other coastal ecosystems known for their capacity to sequester carbon.
Industry-tailored approach
The 2025-2026 scheme has been specifically adapted to address priorities raised directly by the industry. Minister Muir explained: “This year’s Programme has also been tailored to allow industry to seek financial support to progress a number of areas that they have expressed to me in recent months as key and critical priorities for industry.”
These priorities include marketing, staffing and crewing of operations and the longer-term economic, social and environmental resilience of their operations.
Supported project categories
The Minister outlined several categories of eligible projects, encouraging the submission of applications that focus on investing in safer fishing initiatives and operations, training and other investments focusing on adding value and reducing operational costs.
Applications relating to innovative projects and processes, marketing initiatives and research; more selective fishing gear and practices, and commercial fishing port infrastructure are also encouraged.
The funding supports proposals for safety-at-sea improvements, training programmes, and operational cost reduction, along with selective fishing gear, commercial port infrastructure upgrades, and innovative processing improvements.
Strategic planning opportunities
Minister Muir encouraged stakeholders to view the fund as an opportunity for longer-term planning: “I would encourage stakeholders to fully utilise the available funding to help develop longer-term strategic plans and proposals on key issues and priorities that could help shape the supported offered through future funding schemes.”
Future strategy development
The fund will operate alongside the development of a comprehensive long-term approach. The Minister noted: “My Department will be delivering this Scheme in tandem with the progression of a longer-term strategy for future fisheries support which, subject to funding availability, will be reflective of the current focus and concerns on resilience, sustainability, green growth, the blue economy, and the appropriateness of current port and harbour infrastructure for the years ahead.”
Additional funding allocation
Beyond the main grant scheme, a further £1.1m earmarked funding from the NI Executive is allocated towards the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute’s costs associated with annual fisheries data collection and the Department’s fisheries management and control operations.
Application process
Further information on the scheme, including guidance notes and how to apply is available from DAERA, with enquiries directed to the Marine Fisheries Division Programme Support Branch at MEFF.queries@daera-ni.gov.uk.
Minister Muir concluded: “I am pleased that my Department is able to provide this support in these challenging times and my officials remain happy to offer help, signposting and guidance to potential applicants.”