Minister Muir Launches £3.25m Northern Ireland Fisheries Fund - NI Fishing Industry News - The Fishing Daily - Irish, UK and European Fishing Industry News
Industry Priorities Cited As Central To Grant Scheme
While the scheme is broadly similar to earlier fisheries funding rounds, DAERA has said it was tailored this year to reflect priorities raised directly by industry. These include marketing support, staffing and crewing, value-added processing, and the long-term resilience of fishing and aquaculture businesses.
Minister Muir encouraged proposals on safety-at-sea improvements, training programmes, and operational cost reduction. Funding applications for selective fishing gear, commercial port infrastructure upgrades, and innovative processing or supply-chain improvements are also eligible.
In his statement, Muir said: “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.”
He also added that the MEFF would run alongside the development of a longer-term fisheries support strategy, subject to future funding availability. This broader approach would focus on sectoral resilience, green growth, sustainability, and infrastructure suitability.
Time-Limited Funding And Additional Data Budget Confirmed
DAERA confirmed that the £3.25 million in grants must be spent before the end of March 2026 due to its classification as a one-year Treasury settlement. In addition, £1.1 million has been earmarked from the Northern Ireland Executive budget to cover annual fisheries data collection by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, and for departmental fisheries management and control costs.
Further information and application guidance are available through DAERA’s Marine and Fisheries Division, with enquiries directed to [email protected].
