Mayo community groups and angling clubs invited to apply for fisheries funding

Since 2016, a value in excess of €4 million has been awarded by Inland Fisheries Ireland to over 200 projects across the country.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) will be opening a new funding round which is available to eligible community groups and angling clubs throughout the Republic of Ireland. The grant funding will be available to sustainable fisheries conservation and development projects, with over €1 million announced today.

In the 2020 funding call, Bangor Angling Club was awarded €14,964 in funding as part of the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund for river rehabilitation work on the Glenturk and Owenmore fisheries, Co. Mayo.

In the first instance, applicants must complete an expression of interest (EOI) on IFI’s grants management portal, a process which is open on a continuous basis all year round. Once the EOI is successfully completed, applicants can further develop their application on the grants management portal through appropriate engagement with IFI and specific requirements to your proposal.

EOIs are invited from angling clubs, fishery owners, local development associations, local authorities, Tidy Towns groups and others in Mayo who may be looking to carry out relevant projects.

The 2021 funding call consists of two schemes made up of angler contributions to both funds: the Midlands Fisheries Fund (MFF) of €50,000, which focuses on sustainable development works in the midland fisheries permit area; and the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund (SSTRCPF) of €1 million, which aims to rehabilitate, protect and conserve salmon and sea trout, and their habitats.

Regarding the latter scheme, funding will be available this year for habitat rehabilitation and conservation projects only (e.g. fish passage improvement, spawning enhancement, instream and bank protection, fencing, the removal and control of invasive species, etc).

Completed EOIs can transfer to full applications from November 30, and then applications can be further developed. Full applications must be submitted before 5.30 p.m. on January 28, with decisions on applications and grants to be announced in May 2021.

Suzanne Campion, head of business development at IFI, said: “We are committed to realising the potential of the fisheries resource from a social and economic perspective but also to protecting it for future generations to enjoy. Interested groups in Mayo are invited to get in touch with us for further information with guidance available throughout the application process.”

For more information about the Habitats and Conservation Funding Call 2021, an information booklet is available for download at www.fisheriesireland.ie/funding.