Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27: general guidance notes

Introduction to the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27

The Marine Fund Scotland for 2026-27 is focused on supporting projects that deliver outcomes relating to Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision, which was published on 31 March 2022.

These General Guidance notes set out information for people and organisations interested in applying to the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27. This includes information on:

• Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision
• the outcomes the Marine Fund Scotland aims to deliver
• what types of projects can and cannot be funded
• how to apply
• what information you need to apply
• how applications will be assessed

In these General Guidance notes:

• “You” means the applicant. “Applicant” means (as appropriate) the individual, business (including sole traders), organisation, charity, community group or other incorporated or unincorporated entity which is intended to benefit from an application for a grant and to whom the grant would be made. You can employ an agent or consultant to help you complete your application but you must sign the application.
• “We” or “us” means the Scottish Ministers (which, for this purpose includes (where appropriate) the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate and any of the Marine Directorate’s officials, agents or representatives).
• “Public law bodies” are organisations financed, managed or supervised by the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government or Northern Ireland Executive.

The information provided in these General Guidance notes should be taken as a guide to the grant funding available. If you have further questions after reading these Guidance notes, you can also contact us by emailing us at MFS@gov.scot.

What is Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision?

Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision is that, by 2045, Scotland’s shared stewardship of our marine environment supports ecosystem health, improved livelihoods, economic prosperity, social inclusion and wellbeing.

• “The Blue Economy” means sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of the marine and coastal ecosystem.
• “Sustainable use of ocean resources” means that we use our ocean resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to use the resources to meet their needs. This means preserving and protecting the marine environment for future generations.

This Vision was set out in Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision document which was published on 31 March 2022. This document states that our seas, coasts, and interlinked freshwater environments, and the resources within them, are very important for Scotland’s economy and national well-being. It recognises that this must be a two-way relationship where we have to take care of the natural environment and its resources.

The Blue Economy Vision document also states that Scotland’s marine space and marine sectors are national assets that play an important part in meeting our ambitions as a society. These include our commitment to net zero carbon emissions by the year 2045.

• “Net zero” means reaching net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases as far as possible and enhancing uptake and storage of them, so that the gas emission and uptake/storage are balanced.

Why is the Blue Economy Vision relevant to the Marine Fund Scotland?

The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 is one of the ways that the Scottish Government will support Scotland’s marine sectors to help Scotland achieve the Blue Economy Vision. Most of the outcomes that the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 aims to support are based on the outcomes in the Blue Economy Vision document.

The questions in the application process for the Marine Fund Scotland are designed to help us understand how your project will deliver against these Blue Economy outcomes.

The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 has also been designed to help support approaches in Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 and Scotland’s Strategy for Seafood.

What legislative powers are being used to deliver funding through the Marine Fund Scotland?

Marine Fund Scotland grant funding is being given in exercise of Scottish Ministers’ statutory powers to give financial assistance under the Fisheries Act 2020 (the Fisheries Act). This financial assistance is given in accordance with the scheme (the

Scheme) established by The Aquaculture and Fisheries etc. (Scheme for Financial Assistance) (Scotland) Regulations 2022^[1] (the 2022 Regulations). The Scheme which the 2022 Regulations establish provides the framework for the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27.

Scottish Ministers may award financial assistance through the Marine Fund Scotland in accordance with the Scheme, for a specific set of permitted purposes (the specific purposes). Only projects that deliver one or more of these specific purposes are eligible to apply to the Marine Fund Scotland.

The specific purposes for which Scottish Ministers may offer grant funding through the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 are^[2][3]:

a) the conservation, enhancement or restoration of the marine and aquatic environment^[4]; including the conservation, enhancement or restoration of the natural beauty or amenity of marine or coastal areas, or of inland waters or waterside areas;

b) the promotion or development of commercial fish or aquaculture activities;

c) the reorganisation of businesses involved in commercial fish or aquaculture activities;

d) contributing to the expenses of persons involved in commercial fish or aquaculture activities;

e) maintaining or improving the health and safety of individuals who are involved in commercial fish or aquaculture activities;

f) the training of individuals who are, were or intend to become involved in commercial fish or aquaculture activities, or are family members of such individuals;

g) the economic development or social improvement of areas in which commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out;

h) the promotion or development of recreational fishing.

Funding through the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 may only be given in relation to Scotland, the Scottish zone or Scottish fishing boats. Please note that whilst the Fisheries Act 2020 lists improving the arrangements for the use of catch quotas or effort quotas⁶ as one of the specific purposes for which Scottish Ministers can provide funding using their Fisheries Act powers⁷, this activity is not eligible for funding under the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27.

All references in these General Guidance notes (e.g. to assessment criteria, outcomes, types of projects that may apply, indicative projects, etc.) must be read and understood as those which fall within the scope of the specific purposes listed above.

This means that you should assume – even when the specific purposes are not repeated throughout this Guidance – that all references relate to these specific purposes only. Projects that do not fall within these specific purposes are not eligible to apply to the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27. Any reference to the economic development or social improvement of a community, area or areas must be read and understood as concerning an area or areas in which commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out or a community within such an area.

It is important to note that, although projects may fall into one or more of the specific purposes listed above, this does not mean they are guaranteed an offer of funding through the Marine Fund Scotland. Whether or not an application for funding is successful depends on how well the project meets the outcomes that the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 aims to deliver. More on that is set out in the ‘How will applications to the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 be assessed?’ section of these General Guidance notes.

What types of projects can apply to the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27?

There is no comprehensive list of projects, sectors or groups that can apply to the Marine Fund Scotland. This is to ensure as much flexibility as possible to encourage and support innovative ideas.

However, to be eligible to apply, a project must:

• be within the scope of Scottish Ministers’ grant funding powers under the Fisheries Act 2020, which are being relied upon (as set out in the ‘What legislative powers are being used to deliver funding through the Marine Fund Scotland?’ section of these General Guidance notes), in that the project falls within the specific purposes for which Scottish Ministers can offer funding and that the project is in relation to Scotland, the Scottish zone or Scottish fishing boats.
• meet the other eligibility criteria for the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 (as set out in the ‘Eligibility criteria for the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27’ section of these General Guidance notes).
• clearly deliver benefits that are in line with the desired outcomes of the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 (as set out in the ‘Outcomes for the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27’ section of these General Guidance notes).

We encourage applications for funding support for investments that have clear added value, in particular by addressing market failures or sub-optimal investment situations.

Some examples of the types of projects that may apply to the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 are at Annex B. Activities of the type listed will only be eligible where they fall within the scope of the Scottish Ministers’ legislative grant making powers which are being relied upon (as set out in the ‘What legislative powers are being used to deliver funding through the Marine Fund Scotland?’ section of these General Guidance notes). The examples given are not exhaustive and if an activity is included as an example, in this section or anywhere else in these Guidance notes, this does not guarantee an offer of grant funding.

There are also some types of projects that Marine Fund Scotland funding cannot be applied for. These categories are listed in Annex C.

As in previous years of the Marine Fund Scotland, in 2026-27 the Fund will accept applications from new entrants seeking to purchase a first fishing vessel or a first share in a vessel (‘young fishers’). These applications must meet additional eligibility criteria as well as the general eligibility criteria. More information is set out in the ‘Young Fishers’ section of these General Guidance notes.

The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 is a competitive grant funding scheme. There is no automatic entitlement to any funds and so there is no guarantee that your project will be offered funding, even if it is eligible to apply. Only those projects which are eligible and most clearly deliver on the outcomes for the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 will be supported.

In addition, where an offer of grant funding is made under the Marine Fund Scotland, this may not be for the full amount of funding applied for.

The Scottish Ministers set the criteria and outcomes for the Marine Fund Scotland.

Any offer of grant funding from the Marine Fund Scotland is made by the Scottish Ministers through issuing a grant offer letter.