Key Features
The funding can support eligible individuals, businesses, organisations and communities to deliver projects which contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy.
Programme: Scottish Government
Award: Share of £14 million
Opens: 18th Jun 2025
Closes: 22nd Jul 2025
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 Marine Fund Scotland 2025-26 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 2025-26 aims to support are based on the outcomes in the Blue Economy Vision document.
The Marine Fund Scotland is a relatively small fund and where possible we will seek to use it strategically to deliver wider benefits. Applications for projects that demonstrate wider collective benefit (e.g. positive outcomes for communities) over and above, or at least in addition to, benefits for an individual organisation, business or person, are more likely to be successful.
The Marine Fund Scotland 2025-26 is for projects starting and delivering in the 2025-26 financial year. At the time of publishing these General Guidance notes (April 2025), funding is only available for expenditure up to 31 March 2026. This means any purchases or work carried out on your project must have been completed and fully paid for by 31 March 2026.
Providing that the project falls within the scope of Scottish Ministers’ grant making powers as set out in the General Guidance notes, potentially relevant applications might come from (but are not limited to) the following sectors and groups:
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 2025-26 will not support direct engine replacements or upgrades (i.e. diesel engine for diesel engine, or upgrading a diesel engine). However, at this stage 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 2025-26 will not support like-for-like replacements or routine upgrades of fishing gear. However, at this stage 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), and/or reduce carbon emissions.
The Marine Fund Scotland 2025-26 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.
Individuals or organisations may apply. See “Scope” for some non-exhaustive examples of eligible applicants and projects.
The proposed project must be in relation to Scotland, the Scottish zone or Scottish fishing boats.
To be eligible to apply, a project must:
The usual grant limits for the Marine Fund Scotland are:
There are some circumstances where 100% of costs can be covered if the proposal is of high collective benefit. Please consult the fund guidelines for full details of these.
Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.