Marine Fisheries Relief Programs and Grant Opportunities

MA DMF utilizes funding from various state or federal sources to offer marine fisheries-related financial relief or opportunities for specific fishery-related issues. Click on each Program link below to learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and application details.

When a fisheries disaster is declared or another highly impactful fisheries-related event occurs, relief funds may become available to financially assist fisheries-related businesses in their recovery efforts or operational needs.  Funding may be appropriated from the Federal government or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Following guidance from each relief program's funding source, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) works with intended recipients to create relief programs to assist in the most economical and meaningful ways possible.

Other Federal or state funding sources may be intended to create opportunities for marine fisheries-related entities or persons in the form of a grant program.  These programs often focus on research, innovation, economic and environmental resilience/growth, or marketing.  Funded grant projects should have a widespread impact or shareable outcome for the public and fisheries-related businesses.

Open Relief Programs and Grant Opportunities

Massachusetts Fisheries Innovation Fund

• Potential applicants: Members of the commercial or for-hire fishing sectors, non-profit fishing, science or research organizations, and academic or public sector entities who have grant or project proposals that would further the fishing innovation, community, or safety goals laid out in the Fisheries Innovation Fund RFP.
• Application period: Applications are due by August 29, 2025 at 11:59pm.

On-Demand Gear Research Program

• Potential applicants: Fixed gear and mobile fishers wanting to fish with on-demand (ropeless) fishing gear during 2025 area/time-of-year closures.
• Application period: due January 31, 2025

This Program will become available should enough fixed-gear fishers reply about interest and intent. Eligible participants would get reimbursed the cost to use on-demand (ropeless) gear during area/time-of-year closures.

Financial Assistance for Electronic Tracking Devices on Federal Lobster Vessels

• Potential applicants: Persons or entities with a vessel in Massachusetts that is federally permitted to trap fish for lobster
• Application period: March 17, 2023 - 2025

Seafood Marketing Small Grant Program

• Potential applicants: Open to the public; proposed work should be related to marine commercial fisheries, seafood, or aquaculture.
• Application period: Ongoing

Closed Relief Programs and Grant Opportunities

Shellfish Depuration Relief Program
• Potential Applicants: Commercial shellfishers affected by the Newburyport Depuration Plant closure.
• Payments issued July 2024

Commercial Fishing Safety Grant 2024
• Potential Applicants: Commercial fishing permit holders with safety-related expenses incurred from July 1, 2023, to April 15, 2024
• Payments issued: June 2024

Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program
• Potential Applicants: Open to the public; proposed work should relate to increasing equitable access to locally produced/harvested food, i.e. farms, fisheries, etc.
• Awards announced: July 2023

Environmental Economic Innovation Grant
• Potential Applicants: Open to the public; proposed work should be related to marine commercial fisheries, seafood, or aquaculture.
• Awards announced: June 2023

Atlantic Herring Fishery Disaster Relief Program
• Potential Applicants: Massachusetts herring fishery participants (commercial fishing vessels and wholesale dealer-primary buyers)
• Funds fully distributed: June 2023

Lobster Gear Relief Program for Dual Permit Holders
• Potential Applicants: Massachusetts coastal lobster permit holders who trap fish in state and federal waters
• Funds fully distributed: June 2023

Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program
• Recipients: Eligible Massachusetts seafood processors and wholesale dealers seeking specific COVID-19 relief.
• Funds fully distributed: October 2022

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Fisheries Relief (Round II)
• Recipients: Eligible Massachusetts businesses permitted for seafood processing & wholesale dealer, for-hire (charter and head boat), commercial harvest, and aquaculture.
• Funds fully distributed: October 2021

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Fisheries Relief (Round I)
• Recipients: Eligible Massachusetts businesses permitted for seafood processing & wholesale dealer, for-hire (charter and head boat), commercial harvest, and aquaculture.
• Funds fully distributed: November 2020

Additional Ongoing MA DMF Grant Opportunities

Massachusetts Clean Vessel Act Program (CVA)
• Potential Applicants: Open to the public; proposed work should provide free pumpout service to Massachusetts recreational boaters.
• Application period: Ongoing

Massachusetts Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG)
• Potential Applicants: Open to the public; proposed work should fund facilities for Massachusetts recreational boaters.
• Application period: Ongoing

Saltwater Fishing Public Access Small Grants Program
• Potential Applicants: Open to the public; proposed work should fund projects that provide public access for saltwater fishing in Massachusetts.
• Application period: Ongoing

Questions

For inquiries related to commercial fisheries-related relief and grant programs administered by MA DMF, please email us at [e-mail].

For Seafood Marketing Small Grant Program inquiries, please email Wendy Mainardi at [e-mail].

For CVA or BIG inquiries, please email Cecil French at [e-mail].

For Saltwater Fishing Public Access inquiries, please email Ross Kessler at [e-mail].