European Fisheries Fund
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly over £7m is available through the European Fisheries Fund for investments which help secure a sustainable and profitable fishing industry.
The scheme is open for applications and further details can be obtained from:
Business Relations Team
Marine Management Organisation
PO Box 1275
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 5BN
Telephone: 0191 376 2505 or 0300 123 1032
Email: eff.projects@marinemanagement.org.uk
Further details are available here.
March 2012
Over £1.13 million of European Fisheries Fund (EFF) money has been secured to support the sustainable development of fishing communities in Cornwall & Isles of Scilly. The funding has been made available from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and DEFRA through the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and is managed locally by Cornwall Development Company (CDC). It will be used by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) to maximise available private investment to build a sustainable future for local fisheries communities.
The FLAG was officially launched on Friday 2 March at an event in Looe.
The fund will be available for projects to bid into for investment up to a maximum of 70% of total project costs, depending on the project activity and proposed outcomes. The FLAG would like to hear from projects that will contribute to one or more of the following key themes:
- Developing sustainable supply chains and market development
- Providing infrastructure and communal facilities for fishing communities and cooperatives
- Capacity building, cooperative development and networking
- Training, retention and recruitment including diversification
- Coastal communities, tourism and economic development
- Advocacy and engagement for fishermen
- Regional sustainable management engagement
More information is available from Cornwall Development Company – the economic development arm of Cornwall Council.
November 2011
Between June and October 2011 over £19,000 was awarded to the Cornish fishing industry from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the Marine Management Organisation.
The funding was awarded to seven projects in the county. These included a grant of £5,700 towards a new engine for a vessel in Newlyn which aims to reduce annual costs by £750 and fuel consumption by around 1,250 litres. A vessel in Mevagissey also received £2,000 towards a new engine. This project aims to reduce fuel usage by up to 20 per cent.
September 2011
Deadline for applications to November panel
Wednesday 21 September is the next deadline for people seeking grants from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) towards large or particularly technical projects.
To be considered by the judging panel at the beginning of November applications must be received in full by 5pm on 21 September.
If you’re unsure of whether your application should go to panel or not, please contact the EFF England Team on 0191 376 2504.
June 2011
European Fisheries Fund Update
In May 2011 over £48,000 of European Fisheries Fund (EFF) grants were approved in England by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The money will support improvements on fishing vessels, investments in fish processing and work which will benefit groups within the fishing industry.
Complex applications and those seeking over £100,000 from the EFF are reviewed by a judging panel. On 6 July the panel will consider more than 15 applications totaling over £1.8 million of potential investment from the scheme.
The deadline for applications to be considered at the next panel is 21 September however smaller applications can be made at any time. Contact the EFF team on 0300 123 1032 for more information.
April 2011
Investment boost for Cornish fishing vessels
So far this year over £34,000 has been awarded from the European Fisheries Fund to help the Cornish fishing industry.
The investment has been awarded to 3 individual fishermen, based in Newlyn and Padstow and will be used towards new engines, upgrading a net hauler and improving on board comfort, working conditions and safety.
Through the scheme over £7.8 million of EU investment was originally made available to help to continue to build a profitable and sustainable fishing industry in Cornwall. Around £4.7 million of this still remains for investment in fishing vessels and projects which will benefit groups of people working in the industry, such as harbour and port improvements.
Applications for investment can be made at any time, however those for grants over £100,000 are assessed by a panel on a quarterly basis. The deadline for applications for the next round of the judging panel is 11 May 2011.
To apply, or find out more about the investment available visit the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) website or one of the MMO coastal offices in Newlyn or Truro.
February 2011
Investment boost for Cornwall fishing community
Cornwall was recently chosen to receive additional support from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) Axis 4 project.
It is one of six coastal communities in England to have been designated as a ‘Fisheries Local Action Group’ (FLAG) by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) as part of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) Axis 4 project.
The Axis 4 scheme aims to develop smaller communities in England which largely depend on fishing for employment. It will provide Cornwall with nearly €1m (€985,000) to help build a more sustainable economy for its fishing areas.
The MMO awarded FLAG status to the group after they demonstrated a good knowledge of the challenges facing the local fleet and committed to involve a wide range of people in their work including those working directly in the fishing industry.
The group has so far been allocated £21,000 to produce a strategy showing how investment could benefit the local economy. In time they will also help local people to bid for further investment from EFF, which has around £8 million ring fenced to help the Cornish fishing industry adapt to changing needs.
In January 2011 over £25,000 was awarded to fishermen in Cornwall through the European Fisheries Fund. This is helping them to make improvements on their vessels.
Neil Robertson, member of the FLAG and Contract Services Manager at the Cornwall Development Company, said: "We are delighted to be awarded this amount to invest in our fishing communities and we’re itching to start. There’s been a lot of interest in the potential of what can be achieved and it’s great that we already have a shadow board to drive things forward."
Chair of that Board, and Chair of St Mawes and District Fishermen’s Association, Tony Tomlinson, said: "It’s going to be an exciting time working with our communities, identifying priorities and establishing a strategy against which we will make our investment decisions."
Innovation Fund
The MMO recently launched a £1m fund as part of EFF to support new ideas to improve the way the under 10 metre sector operates in England. Anyone working in or with the fleet can apply for the investment, which offers up to 90 per cent towards projects costing over £500. Applications need to be made by 31 March 2011 and may also be considered for wider EFF investment. More information is available from www.marinemanagement.org.uk , from one of the MMO’s coastal offices or by calling Catherine Murphy on 0191 376 2505.
December 2010
Cornish fishing community chosen to receive Axis 4 investment
Cornwall’s fishing community has been chosen to receive nearly €1m (€985,000) from the European Fisheries Fund Axis 4 programme. The fund, which is run in England by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), aims to develop smaller communities in England which largely depend on fishing for employment. The Cornwall group was one of eight to apply for funding from the scheme and was chosen by a judging panel in recognition of the challenges facing the local fishing industry, and the difference additional funding could make to the community and environment.
Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund was set up to support new ideas which could improve the way the under 10 metre (boat) sector operates in England.
Up to 90 per cent of funding will be provided towards projects seeking to develop new, more sustainable ways of working, which in turn may help the long-term future of the sector. Applications are being accepted from those working in the under 10 metre sector in England, or organisations whose work directly impacts the fleet. Around £1 million of funding is available, made up of existing EFF funds and a national grant.
There is a particular need for ideas that will help share experiences, improve safety, reduce the environmental impact of fishing including discards and increase catch quality and value. Projects must cost over £500 and applications that fall into the following categories, if successful, will attract 90 per cent funding:
- collective actions
- protecting flora and fauna
- fishing ports, landing sites and shelters
- new markets and promotions
- pilot projects
The scheme was launched on 15 November 2010 and has now closed for applications.
Details of funding awarded and results from successful projects will be made available.
Full details of eligibility for the Innovation Fund along with guidance notes are included in the application form which is available from the Marine Management Organisation.
October Panel
More than £3 million in grants has been awarded to the English fishing industry from the European Fisheries Fund and the Marine Management Organisation.
A total of 11 projects were approved by the EFF selection panel in October 2010. The biggest single grant awarded at the panel meeting was £1.22 million for the regeneration of Southwold harbour, Suffolk. Other awards were:
- £443,000 for improvements to a cold store and processing unit in Whitby
- £245,000 for the demolition and rebuilding of fishermen’s premises in Looe harbour
- £337,000 for a processing factory in Fleetwood
- More than £100,000 for an electronic auction at Brixham market
- £161,000 for the redevelopment of a fish processing factory in Hull
- £54,900 for improvements to fishermen’s units in Plymouth
- £76,000 for improvements to fishermen’s cellars in Clovelly, Devon
- £479,000 for storing and maintenance of fishing boats in Withernsea
- £131,900 to improve fish market access and safety improvements in Hastings
- £25,920 for a new boat engine in Exeter
Ray Hedley, Chair of the England selection panel and head of MMO’s Business Relations Team, said “I was very pleased to see so many high quality applications. These are significant investments from both the public and private sectors at this time.” He added, “The EFF is a tool to support the industry in striving to be sustainable, profitable, well managed and internationally competitive.”
April 2010
European Fisheries Fund Panels
The European Fisheries Fund continues to hold successful panels and are always seeking good quality applications. The next panel will be held on 19 May 2010, the deadline for this has passed. The next panel deadline is 11 August 2010 and the panel will sit on 6 October 2010.
We are also pleased to announce our dates for 2011, these are subject to confirmation so please check the website and industry press for updates. They are:
• Deadline 5 January 2011, panel sits 9 March 2011
• Deadline 11 May 2011, panel sits 6 July 2011
• Deadline 21 September 2011, panel sits 16 November 2011
February 2010
New fish market in Newlyn
An investment of £2.3 million for a new fish market in Newlyn, Cornwall, has been agreed, subject to assurances from the new Newlyn Harbour Commissioners who are expected to be appointed before Easter. The new Harbour Commissioners will need to provide assurances that they are content with the project – particularly the match funding required. For further details click here.
December 2009
The Marine and Fisheries Agency has made a positive start to the European Fisheries Fund Grants programme within Cornwall with 43 projects and almost £2.5 million of investment approved to date. Details of grants awarded are available here. The deadline for the next round of grants is 17 December 2009.
June 2009
Investments approved
Further investments have been approved or conditionally approved by the third European Fisheries Fund selection panel that was held on 21 May. They included £100,00 for a collaborative project between fishermen in the South West and Cefas to reduce fish discards through trawl modifications and investments in the processing of trout in Cornwall. For more information please click here.
February 2009
Second Selection Panel approves investments
Fourteen projects were approved or conditionally approved at the second EFF Selection Panel held on 28 January 2009, including the Seafish Tuna Sail Project, based in Cornwall, and investment in Seafood Cornwall - Towards a Sustainable and Profitable Future. For further details click here.
November 2008
Fisheries investments approved
Eight investments in the English fishing industry, with a value of approximately £1 million, were approved by the first European Fisheries Fund Selection Panel in November 2008. The investments cover safety at sea, the development of an adaptive management protocol for shell fisheries, and the collection of scientific data by fishermen using innovative technologies. Details can be found here.
