The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is pleased to confirm dates for the first English Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) panel.
The MMO is administering the new £6.1 million FaSS on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The fund includes support for business to adapt to new markets and respond to new trading conditions, improve safety on fishing vessels and onshore and to protect the environment – with funding available for equipment that reduces the impact of fishing on the marine environment, among other areas. More information can be found on their website.
Any applications that are over £150,000 in total project cost must be considered by the FaSS panel. The panel is responsible for reviewing applications and recommending projects for approval in line with the overall objectives of the scheme.
Michelle Willis, MMO Director of Finance and Resources said:
The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme is already attracting a lot of interest and we are delighted to announce the first panel dates for applications over £150,000. We encourage those businesses within the seafood and fishing > industry to apply and take advantage of the funding available which is aimed to help support the long-term sustainability and success of the seafood sector throughout England.
The scheme opened for applications on 6 April 2021 and in order to be considered for the first panel, it is recommended that applicants ensure their completed applications are submitted to MMO by 7 May 2021. The £6.1 million of funding announced under the FaSS is only available over the next 12 months so projects must be fully formed and ready to progress and spend quickly.
The first panel for 2021 is scheduled to be held in the week commencing 21 June 2021. Further dates may be released, subject to funding availability. You can contact the MMO Grants Team on 0208 026 5539 to discuss any potential panel application or visit the MMO website for guidance and information on how to make an application.