Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund

The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) aims to modernise the fishing and seafood sector, build resilience, and support coastal regeneration.

The fund will invest £360 million into fishing and seafood businesses and coastal communities across the UK.

This funding includes £56 million which will go to support Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish fishing industries.    industries.

TheIn fundEngland, will look to modernise the fishing and seafood sector, build resilience, and support coastal regeneration.

How the fund will work

The following information is intended to help applicants in England  prepare bids. However, details may change as the fund develops.

We intend for the FCGF in England to operate as a multi‑year funding scheme, with a total value of £304 million over 12 years. We expect £132 million to be allocated up to the financial year 2030 to 2031.

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Funding as soon as possible, it will start from the financial year 2026 to 2027, and will begin to be allocated through the existing Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), delivered by the Marine Management Organisation.

Funding

Apply priorities

For projects valued under £250,000, you can apply at any time.

For projects valued over £250,000, there are 3 competitive funding rounds that will be assessed by a panel.

Funding prioritiesrounds will continuecover the following areas:

• labour and workforce development
• community partnerships (including local trials)
• portside infrastructure

Apply by:

• 1 May 2026, for panel 1
• 12 June 2026, for panel 2
• 5 September 2026, for panel 3

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Funding priorities

In year 1, funding will focus on the following priorities:

• labour and workforce development - support intended to help improve recruitment, retention and skills
• enhanced health and safety - activity to promote safer working practices across the fishing and seafood sector
• community partnerships, including support for place-based pilots and initiatives that encourage local solutions by those who understand the issues
• strengthened trade and market access - work to improve domestic and international sales and competitiveness
• infrastructure investment that supports long term industry productivity and sustainability

Competitive

Applicants fundingcan rounds 

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Small-scale roundsoperators willand bethose assessedwho againsthave publishednot criteriapreviously includingreceived alignmentgrant withfunding theare specificencouraged objectivesto ofapply.

Around the£6 fund,million has been ring-fenced specifically for small-scale coastal fishers, with support available throughout the relevantapplication resultprocess.

Small indicatorsbusinesses and deliverability.community organisations are encouraged to work together locally or regionally to strengthen their applications.

Approach for year 2 onwards

The whole FCGF budget in England will not be limited to delivery through the FaSS.

From the financial year 2027 to 2028, the scheme is expected to incorporate a broader range of priority areas.

Stakeholder engagement

The FCGF is being developed with feedback from stakeholders from the fishing and seafood sector, coastal communities and partner organisations.

A round of engagement took place throughout autumn 2025.

What happens next

Before the fund FCGF opens, this page will be updated to include information on:

• eligibility
• the application process
• the assessment criteria

Seafood Exports package

The government plans to continue the Seafood Exports package in year 1 of the FCGF. 

The package will help UK businesses take advantage of new and existing trading arrangements and overcome trade barriers. 

It will also: 

• boost seafood exports 
• promote UK seafood overseas 
• provide specialist support for UK seafood exporters