Funding of up to €1m available for fisheries

Minister Ryan welcomes launch of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s ‘Habitats and Conservation’ Funding Call

Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, is launching a funding call of up to €1 million today (Tuesday, November 9th), to support vital conservation projects around the country.

Since 2016, more than €5 million in grants have been awarded to over 250 projects throughout Ireland under funds administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland. From today, eligible angling clubs, fishery owners and other stakeholders are invited to apply for funding to support fisheries conservation projects in their local areas through the 2022 ‘Habitats and Conservation’ scheme.

Priority will be given to projects that focus on habitat ‘rehabilitation’ and conservation, such as improving water quality, rehabilitating damaged habitats and helping fish overcome physical barriers, like impassable weirs.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan T.D., has welcomed the funding call and is encouraging eligible groups and stakeholders to apply. He said: “The Habitats and Conservation Scheme is a great example of how we can encourage and support the stewardship role of managing our natural resources across the country. This important environmental scheme supports angling clubs, fishery owners, and stakeholders – in helping them to improve damaged habitats, water quality and fish passage.

“The works and studies supported by the scheme in the future will also result in wider benefits for the environment. As the funding call is now open, I would encourage any eligible group or stakeholder to contact Inland Fisheries Ireland and express their interest in applying for this grant before the deadline.”

In 2021, a total of €785,604 in funding was approved for 18 projects, based in Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Mayo, Roscommon, Wexford, Westmeath and Wicklow. Examples included the construction of rock ramp passages, to make it easier for fish to migrate upstream and downstream of impassable weirs and the installation of fencing to improve water quality. This was done by stopping livestock from entering the river and providing them with alternative sources of drinking water.

Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland, said that protecting and conserving fish species, like Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout, was critical to the overall health of the country’s eco-system. She said: “Damaged riverine habitats can lead to poorer water quality, climate change can lead to rising water temperatures and invasive species can mean even more threats to biodiversity. These are having a damaging impact on our rivers and lakes and on all species that depend on them for survival. Under the Habitats and Conservation Scheme, made possible through fishing licence income, groups can now apply for grants to fund projects and measures that benefit the conservation of freshwater fish and habitats.”

An information guide about the Habitats and Conservation Funding Call 2022 is available to download from www.fisheriesireland.ie/services/funding. As part of a new two-step process, all applicants must firstly complete an ‘Expression of Interest’ application on Inland Fisheries Ireland’s online grant management portal before 5:30pm on Friday, December 17th 2021. After the expression of interest has been completed, full applications must then be submitted to Inland Fisheries Ireland via the online grant management portal by 5:30pm on Friday, January 28th, 2022.

ENDS

For media information

Sarah Bohan/ Sadhbh O’Neill

Communications

Inland Fisheries Ireland

E : sarah.bohan@fisheriesireland.ie/ sadhbh.oneill@fisheriesireland.ie  

T : 087 65 39936 / 087 1019998

Photography Note:

Images from selected previous projects are available on request.

Notes to Editor:

The recipients of the 2021 funding call grants for the SSTCPF and MFF Schemes were:

Habitats and Conservation Funding Call 2022

Expression of interests (EOI): In the first instance, applicants must complete an EOI on IFI’s online grant 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 proposals. EOIs are invited from eligible applicants who may be looking to carry out relevant projects.

The 2022 funding call consists of two schemes made up of angler contributions to both funds.

• The Midlands Fisheries Fund (MFF) (FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO €50,000)

This scheme focuses on sustainable development works in the midland fisheries permit area. The fund has been created through contributions from the permit income received via the Midlands Fisheries Group permit. Projects which will be eligible to receive support will improve fish habitats in a sustainable manner (e.g., habitat enhancement, control of exotic species etc.).  New to the fund this year will be funding for projects that will benefit anglers and promote angling.

• The Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund (SSTRCPF) (FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO €1 Million)

The aim of this fund is to rehabilitate, protect and conserve Salmon and Sea Trout and their habitats. This year, funding will be available 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.).

Eligibility to apply

Financial assistance under the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund is generated by the sale of salmon and sea trout angling licences and commercial fishing licences in Ireland. The Midlands Fisheries Fund is financed through contributions from permit income, received through the Midlands Fisheries Group permit area. To be eligible, applicants to the SSTRCPF must have purchased a valid salmon and sea trout angling licence or have paid fishery rates or for the MFF, hold a current Midlands Fisheries Group permit. 

Key Dates

The following timelines will be in place for the duration of the 2022 call:

• Funding call is launched on Tuesday, November 9th 2021
• Expressions of interest must be completed on-line before 5:30pm on Friday, 17th of December 2021
• Completed EOIs can transfer to full applications from the 30th of November 2021, then applications can be further developed
• Full applications must be submitted on-line to Inland Fisheries Ireland before 5:30pm on Friday, 28th January 2022
• Decisions on applications and grants will be announced by Inland Fisheries Ireland in May 2022

About Inland Fisheries Ireland (www.fisheriesireland.ie)

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC) and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Inland Fisheries Ireland promotes supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland also develops policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling and advises the Minister on same.