Fisheries Challenge Fund (FCF)
MFA Invites Bids
The Marine and Fisheries Agency has been allocated funding by Defra for the Fisheries Challenge Fund.
The Agency took over the management responsibility of the Fund from Defra on 1 June 2008. Monies will be available to improve fisheries management and to enable fishermen and other interested parties to get involved in fisheries research.
The broad criteria for funding are:
- proposals should be consistent with the MFA/Defra and CFP objective of sustainable fisheries and address a fisheries management issue that is relevant to part of the UK fishing industry
- they can include all types of research and analysis, and will not be limited to biological, social and economic studies
- their duration can be from a few months to up to a year in length - however, preference will be given to short-term projects
Priority will be given to:
- proposals which involve an element of stakeholder contribution - for example, making vessel time available for project work
- projects costing £5,000 and £50,000
The MFA will give high priority to proposals supporting Regional Advisory Councils' (RACs') work, because the UK Government has identified the provision of effective practical support to RACs as a high priority.
Allocation of funds for projects will be assessed on a case by case basis, using value for money criteria. It will not, however, be ‘first come, first served’.
Proposals for projects to be funded from April 2009 onwards must be received by the MFA Business Relations Team at the latest by 1 September 2009, to be considered for the 2009/10 financial year.
We will, however, accept proposals for consideration before this date.
Any proposals submitted after 1 September 2009 may be considered for the next financial year (i.e. 2010/11) subject to sufficient funds being available.
Further information including application forms are available on our forms page or can be requested from:
Marine and Fisheries Agency
Business Relations Team
Area 6E, 3 - 8 Whitehall Place
London SW1A 2HH
Tel: 020 7270 8726
info@mfa.gsi.gov.uk