Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has announced four new schemes, co-funded by the state with the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027.
These schemes, which deliver important elements of the €258 million Seafood Development Programme, are already open for applications, with three of these new schemes providing funding support for Irish registered fishing vessels.
‘This demonstrates our commitment to the support and development of this sector, which is of significant economic, social and cultural value to our coastal, rural communities. Following the launch of the EMFAF programme in February, my Department worked closely with Bord Iascaigh Mhara to develop schemes for industry, and they will implement these schemes on behalf of my Department,’ Charlie McConalogue said.
‘The Sustainable Fisheries Scheme will support economically, socially and environmentally sustainable fishing activities. The Inshore Fisheries Scheme aims to be a ‘One Stop Shop’ grant aid scheme for all small-scale coastal fishers. While the V Notching Scheme is a valuable conservation measure to support a fishery of significant importance to the inshore fishing fleet.’
The Inshore Fisheries Scheme will provide targeted supports for the small-scale coastal fishing vessels under 12 metres which do not use towed gear. Enhanced grant intensity rates of between 80% and 100% will be provided to these vessels to support both on-board and on-shore investment, and for participation in conservation measures. Other registered inshore fishing vessels will continue to have the opportunity to participate in conservation measures under this scheme also.
A lobster V-notching Scheme is also being opened, which will continue the good work done under previous V-notching schemes to improve the sustainability of this fishery, which is of significant importance to the inshore fishing fleet in particular.
The Sustainable Fisheries Scheme will provide support to all registered fishing vessels (other than the small-scale coastal fishing vessels) for on-board investment. Both the Inshore Fisheries Scheme and the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme support investment by fishing vessels in more selective gear that reduces catches of juvenile and/or over quota species, with the ultimate aim of improving the sustainability of fisheries.
The fourth scheme being opened is the Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme. This scheme will provide support for capital investment in the seafood processing sector and will continue and build on the supports provided to the sector over the course of 2022 and 2023 under the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), where the seafood processing industry received over €30 million funding for capital investment.
