Fisheries Funding (Inland Fisheries Ireland)

Two funds:

1. €1m for Salmon and Sea Trout Rehab, Conservation and Protection
2. €50,000 for Midland fisheries.

Each year funding is made available by Inland Fisheries Ireland to allow fisheries related projects to be carried out.

The Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund (SSTRCPF) is generated from the sale of salmon and sea trout angling and commercial fishing licences, which represents a major contribution by licence holders to the rehabilitation, conservation and protection of these fish species.

The Midland Fisheries Fund (MFF) is a funding mechanism through which angling clubs and organisations can access funding to undertake sustainable development works in the Midland Fisheries Group permit area. This source of funding has been created through angler contributions set-a-side from the permit income received by Inland Fisheries Ireland in the Midlands Fisheries Group permit area.

1. Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund: Applications are invited from contributors to the fund which may include angling clubs, commercial fishermen and fishery owners with an interest in a salmon fishery and who have purchased a valid salmon and sea trout angling or commercial fishing licence (evidence required upon registration). The fund is managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
   
   Applicants may apply for projects for the rehabilitation, conservation and protection of our wild Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout stocks. Match funding will only be required for applications involving feasibility studies or river development plans. Funding will be available for rehabilitation and conservation projects only.
   
2. Midland Fisheries: Applicants must have paid a current Midland Fisheries Group permit to be eligible for this fund (evidence required on registration). Projects can only be applied for within the Midlands Fisheries Group permit area. As this fund is made up of permit contributions, applications to this fund do not require match funding, but are limited to 2 applications per organisation per year.

Projects will be assessed against the six objectives of the scheme:

1. Rivers below conservation limit (in terms of salmon) or where sea trout stocks are significantly in decline or where sea trout fisheries are derelict.
2. Rivers, lakes and coastal zones where the conservation of the stock of either salmon or sea trout is under threat.
3. Rivers which have the greatest prospect of recovery of either their salmon or sea trout stocks or both.
4. Remedial works within the remit of Inland Fisheries Ireland where maximum benefit can be expected to accrue in terms of an improvement to the salmon or sea trout stocks and habitat.
5. Projects of strategic national importance that benefit the conservation or protection of Ireland’s salmon and sea trout stocks.
6. Measures that will aid in the assessment of the status of either the salmon or sea trout stocks in threatened rivers.
7. Project scoring criteria will include (but not be limited to) the following:
8. Projects must have a good potential to clearly benefit fisheries in the Midland Fisheries Group Permit Area.
9. Projects must have a definite focus on tourism angling or fisheries development that will ultimately improve the tourism potential.
10. Sustainable development must be evident, i.e. Maintenance Plans provided.
11. Potential economic impact must be outlined as part of the application.
12. Projects that are part of a larger community or tourism project must be noted as such and supporting documentation provided.

Further information on the scheme can be found on the Fisheries Ireland website.

Email: info@fisheriesireland.ie