Reduced Energy Consumption in the Shellfish Sector Grant

About this grant

The Minder energieverbruik (reduced energy consumption) subsidy from RVO helps Dutch shellfish fishers and growers invest in innovative components for their fishing vessels so that vessels become more energy efficient and the business more future-proof. The scheme, aimed at the shellfish sector, has a total budget of EUR 2,000,000 and covers 50% of eligible investment costs, up to EUR 400,000 per vessel owner. Eligible investments fall into three groups: hull hydrodynamics (stability mechanisms, non-toxic antifouling, steering adjustments that reduce rudder activity, flow tank tests); propulsion system improvements (energy-efficient propellers, catalysts, efficient generators, econometers and fuel management or monitoring systems, jet nozzles, bow thrusters, renewable-energy drive components); and changes to fishing gear (switching from towed gear to an alternative gear, modifying towed gear, or adding monitoring equipment), provided the new gear is no less selective than the current gear. Maintenance, nets and ordinary gear, and replacement or modernisation of auxiliary engines are excluded. Applicants must own a vessel registered in the Dutch Register of Fishing Vessels, have spent at least 60 days at sea in 2024 and 2025 combined, be a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise, and use the vessel for shellfish fishing or culture (species include cockles, razor clams, mussels, oysters, and several other shellfish). Investments may begin once the application is submitted, at the applicant's own risk. Applications are assessed in order of receipt, decisions are issued within 8 weeks, and the investment must be completed within 2 years. Partial payments may total up to 90% of the subsidy, with the balance paid after final assessment.

Eligibility

Owners of Dutch fishing vessels registered in the Netherlands Register of Fishing Vessels who fish for or farm shellfish (cockles, razor clams, mussels, oysters, strandschelpen, zwaardscheden, tapijtschelpen) and qualify as micro, small or medium-sized enterprises. The vessel must have recorded at least 60 days of sea fishing activity across calendar years 2024 and 2025. Applicants must not have received other subsidy for the same investment on the same vessel, must not be transferring or reflagging the vessel outside the EU within 5 years of final payment, and must not be excluded for serious infringements of the Common Fisheries Policy. Companies linked to others (for example through multiple BVs or a shareholder holding 25% or more of voting rights) share a single EUR 400,000 cap and must together qualify as an MKB. A separate scheme covers vessel owners who fish for other species; this page addresses the shellfish group only. Applications are submitted via eHerkenning level 3 with RVO services authorisation, or by an authorised intermediary.

How it's scored

Applications are assessed in order of receipt once complete. Incomplete applications are returned for missing information before assessment begins. Eligibility checks cover vessel ownership, register registration, sea-day requirement, MKB status, shellfish use, absence of serious infringements, and investment type. The page does not describe a scoring or weighting system or a panel composition.

Key requirements

• ✓Applicant must be a shellfish fisher or shellfish farmer (kweker)
• ✓Investment must be in an installation on a fishing vessel that reduces energy consumption
• ✓Applications accepted from 28 September 2026 to 14 December 2026

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) offer?

Reduced Energy Consumption in the Shellfish Sector offers $500K.

When is the Reduced Energy Consumption in the Shellfish Sector deadline?

Applications close 14 Dec 2026 16:00.

Who can apply for Reduced Energy Consumption in the Shellfish Sector?

Eligibility covers organisations in NL; sme, cooperative. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Energy efficiency funding covers building retrofits, industrial process upgrades, heat recovery, efficient equipment and demand reduction. It arrives as grants for audits and capital works, as support schemes run by agencies and utilities or as public tenders for retrofit and energy services. Applicants usually need a baseline of current energy use and a measured saving.