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Bord Iascaigh Mhara

6 schemes tracked

Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme

The Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme funds investments by Irish aquaculture producers in productive capacity, product innovation, energy efficiency, environmental performance, quality, safety, and animal health and welfare. Grant aid is available at a rate of 50% of eligible expenditure, up to a cap of €500,000 per applicant under the current call.

Grant range
Up to €500,000
Funding level
50%
Support type
Grant
Last checked
3 Sept 2026
Start this application on Bord Iascaigh Mhara's website (opens in a new tab)

About this scheme

The Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme funds investments by aquaculture producers in the Republic of Ireland, under the EMFAF Operational Programme 2020-2027 objective of promoting sustainable, competitive aquaculture. Eligible project objectives include productive investment, product innovation (such as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, seaweeds and new species), energy efficiency, reduced environmental and water impact, closed recirculation systems, product quality and value-adding, safety equipment, animal health and welfare, and food quality and hygiene. Applicants must hold statutory aquaculture consent (and Foreshore Act consent where relevant) and comply with its terms; sites in marine Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas awaiting a licence determination are excluded. Offers follow assessment after the call closes, prioritising the highest-ranking applications if budget is limited; expenditure incurred before an offer is entirely at the applicant's risk. Applications go through the BIM Grants Portal, guided by published Guidelines for Applicants and optional Teams information sessions.

Who can apply

  • Applicant must be an aquaculture producer holding statutory consent to engage in aquaculture and, where required, consent under the Foreshore Acts, and must comply with the terms and conditions of those consents
  • Sites in marine Special Areas of Conservation (EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC) or Special Protection Areas (EU Birds Directive) that are awaiting determination of an aquaculture licence application or renewal under Section 10 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 are not eligible
  • Applications must pass all eligibility checks, including an aquaculture licence good-standing check, by 23 October 2026 or may be closed (applicants may re-apply under the next call if they address the reasons for failure)
  • Current call opens 22 July 2026 and closes 11 September 2026 at 5pm
  • Offers are made only after the call closes and all applications are assessed; if budget is limited, offers go to the highest-ranking applications
  • Applicants may incur project expenditure from the point of submitting an application, but entirely at their own risk, as an application may be closed or no offer made
  • Support rate is 50% of eligible expenditure across all expenditure types, capped at €500,000 grant aid for this call
  • General non-statutory costs (e.g. architects', engineers' and construction insurance fees) are eligible up to a ceiling of 10% of the construction element of the project

How to apply

  1. Review the Guidelines for Applicants, which cover the application process and assessment criteria
  2. Apply online via the BIM Grants Portal (SmartSimple); the form works on all devices, though desktop/laptop is advised for best results
  3. Optionally join a drop-in applicant information session and demonstration (held 23 July, 13 August and 3 September, 3-4pm) via Microsoft Teams
  4. For technical queries about the BIM Grants Management System, email BIM's Grant Help Desk
  5. Optional: share feedback on the application process via BIM's dedicated feedback email address