UK Seafood Fund: Infrastructure Scheme
Find out about funding available through the Infrastructure Scheme.
At least £65 million in grant funding is available through the Infrastructure Scheme. The scheme will fund projects that improve the UK seafood sector supply chain through investment in:
- improved capability at ports, harbours, processing, and aquaculture facilities
- the social and economic welfare of coastal communities
- fleet modernisation
- recreational sea fishing
This is a competitive scheme. To get funding, you must bid for a grant.
Find out about projects that have already been awarded Infrastructure Scheme funding.
The Infrastructure Scheme is part of the UK Seafood Fund.
The scheme has been split into 4 rounds.
Round 1
Applications for round 1 closed on 14 June 2022.
Round 1 awarded grants to organisations to improve:
- capability in ports, harbours, and onshore
- processing facilities
- aquaculture capability
Round 2
Applications for round 2 closed on 3 February 2023.
Round 2 focuses on improving:
- capability in ports, harbours, and onshore
- processing facilities
- aquaculture capability
Round 3
Applications for round 3 closed on 2 August 2024.
Round 3 awards funding to:
- purchase new, more fuel-efficient engines for commercial fishing vessels, or to modify existing engines
- improve commercial vessels to reduce fuel use and emissions
- improve port infrastructure for the commercial catching sector
- improve the health, safety and wellbeing in the catching sector
Round 4
Applications for round 4 closed on 19 June 2023.
Round 4 focuses on recreational sea fishing.
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Updates to this page
Last updated 3 September 2024 + show all updates
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Applications for round 3 closed on 2 August 2024.
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Round 3 will close for new applications at 11:59pm on 2 August 2024.
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Round 3 of the UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme has been expanded. You can apply for funding to: - purchase new, more fuel-efficient engines for commercial fishing vessels, or to modify existing engines - improve commercial vessels to reduce fuel use and emissions - improve port infrastructure for the commercial catching sector - improve the health, safety and wellbeing in the catching sector
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Amended explanation of upcoming webinar for round 3.
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Defra is expanding round 3 of the UK Seafood Fund: Infrastructure Scheme. Defra is hosting a webinar from 3pm to 4:30pm on 6 December 2023.
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Applications for round 3 of the UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme are open until midday on 13 December 2024 (or until Defra has allocated all the funding).
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Applications for round 4 closed 19 June 2023.
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Round 4: recreational sea fishing is now open for applications. You must submit your application before midday on 19 June 2023.
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Applications for round 2 closed 3 February 2023.
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Details of how to apply for different rounds of funding have been moved to dedicated pages for each round.
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We have removed details of an early market engagement event which has now passed.
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Round 2 of the UK Seafood Fund: Infrastructure Scheme is now open for applications. The page also includes details of an online event for information about round 4.
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Page has been updated to include details of an online event for information about round 3.
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Round 2 will open for applications in autumn 2022.
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Links to the invitation to apply and agreement and terms for round 1 have been removed.
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Details of the early market engagement event have been removed as the event has now passed.
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Added a feedback form so you can let us know what you think about our plans for round 2 of the Infrastructure Scheme.
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Updated guidance on how to apply for the UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme. Now includes details of an online event for information about round 2.
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Update to application guidance while between application rounds.
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Round one is now closed for applications.
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The closing date for applications has been extended to midday on 14 June 2022. The Invitation to Apply has been amended to reflect clarification requests and a revised timetable.
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The scheme is now open for applications. Information has been added to explain the process and links to documents you must read before applying.
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Changed opening date for applications to the end of March 2022.
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First published.