ImportantAbout update:the 10Fisheries Juneand 2024Seafood Scheme

The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) hasis now closeda Department for applications.

SinceThe re-openingFaSS earlierprovides thisfinancial year,assistance to projects in England that would not be possible without government support.

Aims of the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme

The (FaSS) has onceFaSS againdelivers proveninvestments popularto withsafeguard industry,the generatinglong-term asustainability, record-breakingresilience number of applicationsand inprosperity just threeof months.the Given the numberseafood andsector valueacross ofEngland. applicationsIt weprovides havegrants received,to support the scheme isSecretary nowof closedState’s tokey newpriorities applications.for Defra by funding projects that contribute to:

Applications

• Creating alreadya submittedsustainable areand currentlyresilient beingseafood processed,sector
• Reducing emissions and allwaste applicationsfrom acknowledgedthe byseafood MMO’ssector
• Cleaning grantsup teamrivers, willlakes stilland beseas assessed.and Thesupport teamnature willrecovery
• Boosting alsoregional contactand anyeconomic recentgrowth applicantswithin yetthe toseafood receivesector

FaSS anEligibility acknowledgementMeasures

FaSS tooffers advisea wide range of nextproject steps.

Furtherfunding information

• Applicationsmeasures submittedwithin oneach oraim. afterYou 12.00pmcan click on 10each Junemeasure 2024to willtake notyou beto consideredthe relevant guidance.

  All

  Details

  Read

  You

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  About the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme

  The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme provides(FaSS), financialadministered assistanceby forMMO projectson thatbehalf supportof theDefra, developmentdelivers ofinvestments to safeguard the catching,long-term processingsustainability, resilience and aquacultureprosperity sectors,of andthe forseafood projectssector thatacross enhanceEngland.

  Since theopening marinein environment.2021, Thethe scheme ishas availablebeen toincredibly applicantssuccessful whosewith organisation£35 and/ormillion vesselsinvested arein registeredover in1,700 England.

  Theprojects schemesupporting willEngland’s providecatching, fundingaquaculture forand aprocessing rangesectors, ofas well as projects that deliverare improving the followingmarine high-level outcomes:environment. 

  • Creating

    This ais morethe sustainablefinal andyear resilientof sector

  • Boosting the demandscheme, for English seafood and accessinggovernment newfinancial markets
  • Improvingguidelines participationdictate throughthat co-designall claims and co-management
  • Achievingpayments goodmust environmentalbe statusmade throughbetween the9th conservationJune 2025 and restoration31 ofMarch the2026. marineAny environment
  • Supportingexpenditure netbeyond zerothis throughdate reducingwill emissionsnot withinbe theeligible industry
  for reimbursement.

  Who can apply for funding?

  ThisGovernment is the final year of the scheme, and government financial guidelines dictate that all claims and payments must be made between April9th 2024June 2025 and 3131st March 2025.2026. Any expenditure beyond this date will not be eligible for reimbursement.

  To be eligible for this scheme you must be one of the following:

  • An individual or business engaged within commercial or sea fishing, aquaculture or processing or(1.), an organisation or business engaged within recreational sea fishing;fishing or an organisation or business engaged in the conservation, enhancement or restoration of the marine environment.
  • An organisation or business that recycles/upcycles waste materials associated with the seafood sector and/or develops new technologies to improve environmental sustainability associated with the seafood sector.
  • A public body or local authority in a local community that has a focus on fishing, aquaculture or processing activities (including trust ports and local authority ports, and public bodies, using funds for environmental improvements or the management of fisheries);
  • A university or research institute;
  • A new entrant to the industry or unemployed individual that could benefit from knowledge or skills in fishing, aquaculture or processing activities.

  You will be required to declare if you have received funding from other government financial support schemes and, if so, what for. This is to prevent any duplication of funding and to ensure rules around maximum thresholds of support are complied with.

  IfPlease younote are an applicant engaged in recreational sea fishing it is suggested that youeach contacteligible ourapplicant Grants Team before making your application so that we can besthave advisea youmaximum on£250,000 howin toFaSS completecontributions yourover applicationa form.financial year.

  If you are a business, you will need to declare which of the following categories you fall under (definitions can be found in the the general guidance document)

  • Micro-entity
  • Small business
  • Medium-sized business
  • Larger enterprise.enterprise

  You will be required to provide a level of match funding for your project. Please refer to guidance documents below to see the latest rates that apply.

  Who cannot apply for funding?

  You cannot apply for and receive funding if you:

  • Have been convicted of fraud under any other fisheries scheme;scheme
  • Have been foundconvicted tofor haveillegal, committedunreported aand seriousunregulated violation(IUU) of conservation or management measures within the preceding 12 monthsfishing
  • AreHave listedbeen byconvicted theof flagan state,offence that the subsidisingMMO party,considers theto FAObe or a relevant‘serious regionalinfringement’, fisheries management organisation, or arrangement for IUU fishing in accordance with the rules12 andmonths proceduresbefore of that state, party, organisation, or arrangement and in conformity with international lawapplying
  • Have been convictedfound of an offence that the MMO considers to behave committed a ‘seriousserious infringementviolation ’of conservation or fraud,management inmeasures within the preceding 12 months priorof to applying.applying

  Please read the Guidance on Inadmissibility and fraud here.

  What activities the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme can support

  You must review the relevant guidance note for the project you are seeking funding for. These set out what you can and cannot apply for. The detailed guidance notes cover:

  • Fishing related activities including energy improvements on a vessel
  • Diversification and new forms of income
  • Support to improve the resilience and sustainability of a shore-based facility
  • Support for cooperative activities, building capability and advisory services
  • Achieving good environmental status through the conservation and restoration of the marine environment
  • Health and safety.

  If we consider that you can afford your project without the scheme’s support, your project will not be approved.

  As a minimum, all projects will be assessed for value for money, benefits to be delivered, affordability and deliverability.

  It is your responsibility to ensure that:

  • Your project is technically viable and complies with all relevant health and safety legislation, other project specific safety requirements, and all other legal requirements;
  • Items purchased with scheme funding meets all necessary legal requirements. If items purchased subsequently becomes obsolete or illegal, then this is at your own risk. There can be no refunds or claims against the scheme;
  • All relevant legal requirements of the project are complied with.

  What activities the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme can’t support

  You cannot get funding for:

  • YouItems cannotand getservices fundingthat for:are Infrastructurestatutory (measureor 28)mandatory hasrequirements beenof removedlaw fromand FaSSbylaws ascannot supportbe forfunded;
  • Projects infrastructurethat isrisk providedleading throughto thefisheries UKor Seafoodfish Fundstocks forbeing theoverfished commercial(based catchingon sectorbest toavailable make port infrastructure improvementsevidence)
  • AnythingTransferring thatthe negativelyownership affectsof fisha stocksbusiness thator arefishing invessel, anincluding overfishedthrough condition
  • Activities that would negatively affect or increase the exploitationcreation of fishjoint stocksenterprises
  • Operations that increase the fishing capacity of a fishing vessel, or for equipment that increases the ability of a fishing vessel to find fish, except where they meet legitimate public policy goals such as improved safety or sustainability
  • Fishing for fish stocks managed by a regionalRegional fisheriesFisheries managementManagement organisationOrganisation or arrangementArrangement to which the UK is not a member or cooperating non-member of the organisation or arrangement
  • Fishing or fishing-related activities conducted without the permission of the flag state where required and, if operating in another state’s waters, without permission of that stateState
  • Building, purchasing, importing or acquiring fishing vesselsvessels,
  • The transfer of fishing vessels from England to other states, including through the creation of joint enterprises;
  • Increasing the capacity of fish holds
  • Carrying out exploratory fishingfishing;
  • Pulse trawlingtrawling;
  • The same type of equipment for the same vessel if you have already received support through the schemescheme;
  • Transferring ownership of a business
  • Direct restocking, unless explicitly provided for as a conservation measure or in the case of experimental restocking and undertaken by a recognised scientific or conservation institution
  • Statutory or mandatory undertakings – items and services that are statutory or mandatory requirements of law and bylaws cannot be funded
  • Preventative or scheduled maintenance costs
  • Maintenance andincluding mandatorythose costsrelating forto any vehicles
  • Purchasing or leasing of vehicles that are not used exclusively to provide a direct contribution to the projectproject;
  • Interest on a debt
  • The purchase of land or housingthe that’s worth more than 10% of your project’s total expenditure
  • Your business’s operating costs, unless MMO has told you otherwise in your offer letter
  • The re-payments of loans on any item(s) you have purchasedpurchased;
  • The costs of any item(s) bought with a loan until the loan is repaid (this does not include leased items if your offer letter allows funding for them)them);
  • The purchase of land or housing that’s worth more than 10% of your project’s total expenditure;
  • Your business’s operating costs unless MMO has told you otherwise in your offer letter;
  • Any costs that have been fully or partially funded through an alternative grantgrant;
  • Any costs that you could recover in part or in total by making a claim on an insurance policy or by seeking compensation or damagesdamages;
  • The cost for any items purchased prior to receiving acknowledgement of receipt of your funding application by MMO.MMO Grants Team.
  • Items that have been purchased with a Hire Purchase Agreement.
  • Consumable items such as office equipment (printers, memory sticks, tablets) as well as phones, laptops and subscription services are not eligible for funding.
  • Any costs related to the preparation or completion of Grant applications or claims.

  Please contact the MMO Grants Team if you are unsure ofwhether your projectsproject eligibilityis eligible or ineligible for funding. The above list is not exhaustive, the MMO Grants Team retain the right to refuse funding for any items in relation to the list, the decision is final and cannot be appealed.

  The application process

  Expression of Interest (EOI)

  You may wish to submit an ‘expression of interest’ form to see if a project is eligible before completing an application form or responding to a funding round. It is not essential but may help you understand whether your project is likely to fit the criteria for funding.

  Please see our additional guidance for support on how to Lodge an an Expression of Interest

  FaSS Panels

  Applications with a total project cost of £150,000, or more, must be considered by the FaSS panel, which is responsible for reviewing and recommending projects in line with the overall objectives of the scheme. The panel is expected to meet to consider applications in JuneSeptember 2024. The deadline for the submission of applications for this panel is 11.59pm, Tuesday 30 April 2024.2025.

  Making an application

  All applicants applying to the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme must read the the general guidance document as as well as the project specific guidance before applying.

  You can apply for funding online. You may need to complete more than one application if your project has different elements within it. You should read the associated guidance for each part of your application.

  Please note IT improvements to the FaSS online application and claims system are ongoing.

  You will need the following information to hand in order to complete the application:

  • The appropriate guide for completing your application form
  • Your business details such as your accounts, business registration number and VAT registration number.

  If your application is successful, you will need to be able to pay for your entire project up front - you can then claim the costs back from MMO.

  After you apply

  We will contact you within fiveten working days to confirm receipt of your application. After this you can begin work on the project, but this is entirely at your own risk. The items, suppliers and costs must be the same as in your application: any deviation will make the costs ineligible.

  We will assess your application within eighttwelve weeks of its receipt and notify you if any further information is required. Once we have all the required information to allow us to make a decision, we will contact you to tell you if your application has been successful or not.

  If approved, you must update us on the progress of your project when you make a claim for payment.

  You can also find further details in the post-application guidance document.

  All guidance notes are located in the main guidance page

  Applying to FaSS

  Applications are now closed.

  If you have submitted an application prior to 10 June 2024 you can still access the Fisheries and Seafood Support E-system. to review your application or complete a task requested by MMO’s grants team.

  Important Documents

  

  Terms and Conditions - Applicant Declaration

  PDF, 434 KB, 2 pages

  

  SOP7 Payment Details Form

  PDF, 213 KB, 1 page

  

  Expression of Interest Guidance

  PDF, 519 KB, 5 pages

  

  Expression of Interest Form

  PDF, 395 KB, 4 pages

  Successful Applicants

  Details of the projects that have been awarded a FaSS funding can be found here:

  Successful Applicants

  MS Excel Spreadsheet, 116 KB

  More information

  Grants team
  Marine Management Organisation
  Lancaster House
  Hampshire Court Newcastle upon Tyne
  NE4 7YH

  Telephone: 0208 026 5539

  Email: FaSS.queries@marinemanagement.org.uk