Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund Grant

About this grant

The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) is a Defra programme to modernise the fishing and seafood sector, build its resilience, and support coastal regeneration. The fund totals £360 million across the UK, including £56 million for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish fishing industries. The England element is a multi-year scheme worth £304 million over 12 years, of which £132 million is expected to be allocated up to financial year 2030 to 2031. In England, funding starts in financial year 2026 to 2027 and is allocated through the existing Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), delivered by the Marine Management Organisation. Projects under £250,000 can be applied for at any time. Projects over £250,000 compete in three funding rounds assessed by a panel, with stated closing dates of 1 May 2026, 12 June 2026 and 5 September 2026. Year 1 priorities are labour and workforce development (recruitment, retention and skills), enhanced health and safety, community partnerships including place-based pilots, strengthened trade and market access, and infrastructure investment supporting long-term productivity and sustainability. Applicants may apply for multi-year projects. Around £6 million is ring-fenced for small-scale coastal fishers, and the government plans to continue the Seafood Exports package in year 1. From financial year 2027 to 2028 the whole England budget will no longer be limited to delivery through FaSS, and a broader range of priority areas is expected. The fund was developed with stakeholder feedback, and an expert advisory group will advise Defra on implementation.

Eligibility

The fund applies to England according to the guidance page; the wider UK allocation for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not described on this page. Applicants are fishing and seafood businesses and coastal community organisations. Small-scale operators and those who have not previously received grant funding are explicitly encouraged to apply, and around £6 million is ring-fenced for small-scale coastal fishers. Small businesses and community organisations are encouraged to collaborate locally or regionally. Projects under £250,000 may apply at any time; projects over £250,000 must apply in one of the competitive funding rounds. Applications are made through the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, and the page points to that scheme for application details.

How it's scored

Projects over £250,000 are assessed by a panel across three competitive rounds. The page does not describe scoring criteria, weightings or panel composition beyond the stated year 1 funding priority areas.

Key requirements

• ✓Applicant must be a UK fishing business or coastal community organisation
• ✓Project must support fishing sector development or coastal economic growth
• ✓Specific eligibility criteria and application process available on Defra listing

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund?

Eligibility covers organisations in GB; sme, large-company, nonprofit, cooperative, local-authority, community-group. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Ocean and blue economy funding covers marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, coastal resilience and ocean technology. Support comes from public research bodies, development finance and ocean-focused foundations. Calls often favour projects that involve coastal communities and that can be monitored at sea.