By Ryan Sands
A £3.25 million fund offering financial support for fishing, aquaculture, and other marine stakeholders is now open for applications.
On Tuesday, 29 July, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir launched the Marine Environment and Fisheries Fund, which will be available until 31 March 2026.
A DAERA statement said 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 £0.75 million for applications that positively impact green growth, decarbonisation of the fisheries sectors and, ultimately, the longer-term objective of progression towards a net-zero industry,” the statement continued.
A further £0.5 million in financial assistance is earmarked for supporting projects aimed at physically preserving and restoring the important blue carbon habitats within Northern Ireland’s territorial waters.
Launching the fund, Minister Muir encouraged 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.”
“In terms of what type of projects can be assisted, the support is broadly consistent with that offered through recent marine and fisheries funding programmes,” he added.
Read the full story in the current issue of the Mourne Observer, in which MLA Cathy Mason welcomed the funding but said that more needs to be done.
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