FISHERIES & SEAFOOD SCHEME
Please Note: We are currently making our way through over 100 enquiries. It takes time to make applications. You are welcome to make your enquiry BUT it will be a few months before we get to you.
Click here to fill out enquiry form
Click here to fill out enquiry form
Are you an English fishing business looking for support with the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme? The Fishing Animateurs are here to help.
We support fishermen and fisherwomen, sole traders, harbours and fishermen’s associations, fishing businesses, processors, universities, and others to apply for grant funding. From putting together your application right through to claiming the money. Don’t be put off by the process. We do much of the paperwork and support from idea to finished project.
About the Scheme
The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme opened on 9th June 2025 with £6 million available. All projects must be finished and claimed by March 2026. Funding rates can vary from 50%-80% depending on the applicant and project type.
The scheme focuses on six areas:
Improving energy use onboard vessels and adding value to fisheries products
Diversification and new forms of income
Support to improve the resilience and sustainability of shore-based facilities
Support for cooperative activities, building capability and advisory services
Health and safety
How we can help
We’re here to make the process easier. Our goal is to:
Help make you and your boat safer
Add value to your catch
Improve harbours, coves and landing sites
Support with paperwork, quotes, and claims
We can work with you by phone, email, text or post whatever suits you. Don’t let paperwork or funding worries put you off. Even though the grant can cover up to 80% of costs, the process can take a few months. That’s where we come in.
We work with credit unions who can help bridge the funding gap between your offer letter and the final grant payment and they can also help you set up a regular savings account for your business.
The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme is managed by the MMO on behalf of Defra, whom we have no formal relationship with. We act as your agent throughout the process and do the paperwork on your behalf, taking the pain out of the process. At the Animateur project, we specialise in offering support to the under 10m fleet, and those who need help with the paperwork and IT skills required to complete an application. Our priority is safety improvement and adding value projects.
What you need to know
Don’t spend anything until you’ve had and accepted your offer letter. Any costs before that won’t be covered.
The process takes time, so be patient and get started early.
Start collecting quotes now for any work or kit you want to get funding for.
First step
Fill in our Enquiry form to get started. If that’s tricky, just call us on 01736 362 782 and we’ll help you fill it in over the phone.
Important eligibility updates
Only electric or hybrid refrigerated vehicles are eligible
Radar, AIS and chartplotters are not eligible
Some personal protective equipment is eligible, it must contribute to reducing the risk of, or aid recovery of MOB situations including entanglement. The list below is non exhaustive but categorises some common PPE items and whether they would be deemed eligible or not eligible for funding. Further, PPE will only be deemed eligible if it is not mandatory. Eligible - life jacket, MOB ladder, VHF radio, EPIRB, PLB, searchlight, safety knife.
Not eligible - Clothing inc bib & braces, jackets and gloves, boots, torch, binoculars.
Please note: this is our understanding of the scheme. For anything detailed, you can contact the MMO team directly on 0208 026 5539.
We have no formal relationship with the MMO or DEFRA.