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Source verified August 10, 2026
Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships
Helps Canada’s fish and seafood sector transition
Funding available
Up to 70% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Overview
The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is a contribution program that helps Canada’s fish and seafood sector transition, with the federal government providing 70% of the funding.
Its Atlantic component applies to Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and it supports innovation, infrastructure and science partnerships.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
- Up to 70% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Higher Education
- Research
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Innovation: research and development of new innovations, pilots and testing, activities to introduce innovations to market, and initiatives supporting partnerships or networks that help innovation activities in the sector.
- Infrastructure: adapting or adopting new technologies, processes or equipment to improve the effectiveness, quality and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, including training associated with adaptation.
- Science partnerships: science activities supporting sustainable harvesting, processing and aquaculture technologies, research on ecosystem shifts and their impacts on fish stocks, distributions and the commercial fishery, and initiatives supporting partnerships or networks that help scientific activities in the sector.
Documents Needed
- Application for financial assistance form
- Relevant supplier quotes
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Supporting document
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Indigenous groups
- Commercial enterprises, including fishers, aquaculturists and seafood processing businesses
Eligible expenses
- Incremental project costs only, including essential costs for implementation.
- Supplier quotes for major cost items may be required.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- HST/GST you’re eligible to receive as an input tax credit from the Canada Revenue Agency
Eligible geographic areas
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
Selection criteria
- Completeness, clarity, and conciseness of the project proposal.
- Demonstrated management and technical capability to undertake and successfully complete the project.
- Quality and originality of the proposed research and its anticipated results.
- Feasibility and reasonableness of project costs and financing plan, including leveraging other sources of investment.
- Contribution to improved understanding of, or capacity to adapt to, ecosystem shifts and their impact on the commercial fishery.
How to apply
- Complete the appropriate proposal in both paper and electronic format, on a memory stick or USB.
- Include relevant supplier quotes with all proposals.
- Submit the application for financial assistance form with your proposal.
- Submit a separate proposal for each stand-alone project.
- For innovation projects, provide a completed research and development proposal using the appropriate templates.
- For infrastructure projects, provide a completed business plan using the appropriate templates, and for science partnerships, provide a completed research proposal.
Processing and Agreement
- Additional information or clarification may be required from you during the due diligence process as the program officer reviews the information provided.
- Some projects may require advice from experts in a particular field as part of the due diligence process and in determining the overall risk.
- If your claim is incomplete, it will result in delays and may be returned to you without being processed.
- Your contribution agreement may have additional reporting requirements to those detailed in the mandatory progress report form.
- Further advances will not be processed until you have substantiated all the funds previously advanced.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Atlantic Fisheries Fund – Atlantic innovation, infrastructure or science partnerships fundingFunding for Atlantic fish and seafood sector projects
- Atlantic Fisheries Fund — InfrastructureSupport for Atlantic fisheries projects
- Atlantic Fisheries Fund — InnovationSupports innovation, infrastructure, and science partnerships in Atlantic fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions about the Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships Program
What is the Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships?
The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is a contribution program that helps Canada’s fish and seafood sector transition, with the federal government providing 70% of the funding. Its Atlantic component applies to Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and it supports innovation, infrastructure and science partnerships.
How much funding can be received?
Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships program?
To be eligible for the Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships program, you must:
Based in Atlantic Canada
Active in fish or seafood sectors
Project benefits Atlantic Region
What expenses are eligible under Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships?
Innovation: research and development of new innovations, pilots and testing, activities to introduce innovations to market, and initiatives supporting partnerships or networks that help innovation activities in the sector.
Infrastructure: adapting or adopting new technologies, processes or equipment to improve the effectiveness, quality and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, including training associated with adaptation.
Science partnerships: science activities supporting sustainable harvesting, processing and aquaculture technologies, research on ecosystem shifts and their impacts on fish stocks, distributions and the commercial fishery, and initiatives supporting partnerships or networks that help scientific activities in the sector.
Who can I contact for more information about the Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships?
You can contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by email at RegionalAFF-FPARegional@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by phone at 1-844-795-9718.
Where is the Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships available?
The Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships program is available the province of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.
Is the Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships is a Grant and Funding