Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27: general guidance notes

Annex B – examples of the types of projects that may apply to the Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27

Providing that the project falls within the scope of Scottish Ministers’ grant making powers as set out in these General Guidance notes, potentially relevant applications might come from (but are not limited to) the following sectors and groups:

• commercial fishing, including ‘young fishers’
• inshore fishers
• efforts to improve vessel safety
• recreational fishing
• aquaculture
• seafood processing (including processing aquaculture organisms^[6]) and marketing
• seafood supply chain
• relevant operations at ports and harbours
• research and development (including scientific and research bodies)
• those innovating for the benefit of the marine space for the purposes of developing commercial fish or aquaculture activities or conserving, enhancing or restoring the marine and aquatic environment
• those delivering protection and enhancement of the marine and aquatic environment
• relevant co-operatives
• community initiatives - including beach cleans, events and education (within the specific purposes, noted above, of the Fisheries Act 2020).
• statutory bodies charged with protecting and improving recreational salmon and sea trout fisheries (District Salmon Fishery Boards and their associated Trusts)

The above list is not exhaustive and the inclusion of a group or sector in the above list does not guarantee an offer of grant funding from the Marine Fund Scotland.

The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 will not support direct engine replacements or upgrades (i.e. diesel engine for diesel engine, or upgrading a diesel engine). However, we will consider applications for funding to support the testing of novel engine technologies as part a study or trial to test feasibility and impact.

The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 will not support like-for-like replacements or routine upgrades of fishing gear. However, we will consider applications for funding to support the development/adaptation of gear and fishing techniques to reduce impacts on biodiversity and/or natural capital (e.g. improving selectivity), to improve vessel safety and/or reduce carbon emissions.

The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27 will not support the replacement of creels or basic design changes such as development of escape hatches. However, we will consider support towards novel and innovative approaches relating to creels, particularly where they deliver significant improvements on the interaction of creel gear with other marine species and the environment.