Seafood Training Scheme

About this scheme

The Seafood Training Scheme funds attendance at Recognised Training and Educational Courses to build a skilled talent pool for the Irish seafood sector, in line with EMFAF priorities on sustainable fishing, sustainable aquaculture, and seafood marketing/processing. It is open to new entrants to the sector with a job offer or firm intention to start a seafood business, and to those already working in the sector who wish to upskill; grants are paid directly to the student rather than the employer. BIM's published course list groups eligible courses into four categories (Engineering, Radio, Safety, and Skippers and Crew), each with its own maximum eligible course cost and subsistence rates. The grant equals the course's maximum eligible cost multiplied by the applicable rate, which depends on vessel type and course eligibility. Subsistence is tiered by distance from the training venue and excluded for BIM's mobile Coastal Training Units. Exam fees, resits, and other travel/subsistence are ineligible. Applicants apply via BIM's Training Registration Form before the course starts and before paying fees.

Who can apply

• Applicant must be either a new entrant to the Irish seafood sector with an offer of employment or intention to start a business in the sector, or currently employed in the sector and seeking to upskill
• Course attended must be a Recognised Training and Educational Course (delivered by BIM, or by a provider recognised by BIM as competent to award equivalent qualifications), drawn from BIM's published course list covering four categories: Engineering, Radio, Safety, and Skippers and Crew
• Applicant must be resident in the Republic of Ireland and hold an Irish bank account in their own name
• Grant aid application must be submitted before the course start date and before any course fees are paid
• Grants are paid directly to the student, not the employer
• Aid intensity is 100% for owners of Small Scale Coastal Fishing (SSCF) vessels attending courses marked as SSCF-eligible on the course list, and 50% ("Standard" rate) for all other eligible applicants and courses
• Each course carries its own maximum eligible course cost (ranging from €100 to €2,700 across the published list) and maximum eligible subsistence day/overnight rates; the grant awarded is that course's maximum eligible cost multiplied by the applicable grant rate
• Subsistence is pre-defined per course and tiered by distance from the training location: none within 8km, day rate between 8km and 100km, overnight rate beyond 100km; it does not apply to courses delivered via BIM's mobile Coastal Training Units (CTUs)
• Exam fees, repeat/resit fees, and travel/subsistence outside the defined rules are ineligible

How to apply

1. 1Complete the online Training Registration Form to apply for a grant and book a training course, before the course start date and before paying any course fees
2. 2Await confirmation from the relevant training unit; booking depends on availability, eligibility criteria and a selection process
3. 3Find training course details and dates on BIM's fisheries training pages
4. 4For grant-related queries email BIM's grants team; for booking and course queries email the relevant training unit