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The Fund provides £3.25m financial support for fishing, aquaculture and other marine stakeholders and is available up to 31 March 2026.

The support package is designed to deliver benefits to fishermen, processing and aquaculture businesses, port authorities, inland fishers and stakeholders with environmental interests. It includes £0.75m for applications that positively impact on green-growth, decarbonisation of the fisheries sectors and, ultimately, the longer-term objective of progression towards a net-zero industry. A further £0.5m of the financial assistance is earmarked for supporting projects that aim to physically preserve and restore the important Blue Carbon habitats within Northern Ireland’s territorial waters.

In launching the Fund, Minister Muir said: “I am pleased to announce the opening of the £3.25m Marine Environment and Fisheries Fund for Northern Ireland with immediate effect. As the funding has been secured on a “one-year settlement” basis only, I would encourage stakeholders to engage promptly with my department in order that applications are submitted as soon as possible as this funding must be utilised by 31 March 2026.

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