Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper covering the Coastal, Fishing and Maritime Communities
MARINE TIMES NEWS February 5th:
Grant aid schemes available for seafood industry
Irish seafood processors and fishermen can avail of funding to invest in their businesses and support lobster conservation through the reopening of two grant aid schemes.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, TD, announced that the Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme and Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme for V-notching will reopen in February.
Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme
The scheme provides critical funding support that enables processors to continue investing in product development, innovation, and efficiencies in production methods and energy use.
Opening date: 10 February 2026 Closing date: 4 June 2026
Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme for V-notching
The scheme aims to improve the sustainability of Ireland’s lobster fishery by protecting female lobsters so they can successfully breed again a number of times.
Opening date: 4 February 2026 Closing date: 6 March 2026
The schemes are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
Minister of State, Timmy Dooley TD, emphasised the critical role these two schemes play. He said: “The reopening of these two schemes signals our continued commitment to supporting the seafood sector as it navigates challenges including reduced quotas.
“More than €21.9 million in grant aid was awarded to over 1,600 operations in the Irish seafood sector since EMFAF schemes opened in mid-2024. This funding from the Seafood Development Programme 2021-2027 was administered by BIM through 11 grant aid schemes across the Irish fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors.”
He highlighted how these investments are helping to sustain coastal communities, reliant on the seafood industry, and how they are driving innovation.
“Over €6 million in grant aid has already been allocated to ambitious projects under the Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme since it launched in June 2024. The scheme is helping to unlock further private investment in innovation, supporting businesses to grow, compete and deliver real economic impact to the seafood economy and our coastal communities.”
Minister Dooley said fishermen taking part in BIM’s lobster v-notching programme are protecting the species, maintaining the industry and building a sustainable future.
“I commend the achievements of the 240 fishermen in 92 locations who participated in the BIM v-notching programme in 2025. Their efforts resulted in 61,000 lobsters weighing almost 40 tonnes being safely returned to the sea – the highest number on record.”
The total V-notched last year is equivalent to 6.5% of total lobster landings based on the average annual landings of 600 tonnes. It will see over 450 million additional eggs being spawned to contribute to the sustainability of the stock.
“A total of €742,000 in grant aid was awarded to fishermen last year as part of the Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme for v-notching supported by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund,” Minister Dooley added.
Applications for grant aid can be made through BIM’s online grant management system. The BIM grants team is available to help applicants with registration and application forms. Full details on each scheme and how to apply are available at bim.ie
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