
Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Capacity Building (Business Development)
Last Update: September 30, 2025
QC, Canada
Supports Indigenous communities in business and fisheries development
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- Up to 90% of project cost
Timeline
- Unspecified
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Capacity Building (Business Development) provides funding—covering up to 90% of eligible position salaries—to support Indigenous communities in hiring qualified staff and developing business management skills for sustainable commercial fisheries. Eligible activities include hiring key fisheries business personnel, business and technical assistance, governance design, and support for business plan implementation aligned with community development goals.
Financing terms and conditions
- AICFI funding support may not constitute more than 90% of an individual position’s salary.
Activities funded
- Development and implementation of a Business Development Plan for a commercial fishing enterprise (CFE).
- Hiring qualified staff to support CFE business operations (e.g., Fisheries Director, Coordinator, Bookkeeper, or Fisheries Management System Coordinator).
- Undertaking business and technical assistance projects to strengthen CFE operations.
- Designing or improving governance and management practices to support sustainable fisheries operations.
- Implementing capacity building initiatives that promote long-term sustainability and economic growth of communal commercial fishing activities.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 41,500
Capacity building by hiring staff and launching governance workshops
$ 51,000
Supporting youth employment in fisheries via new coordinator roles
$ 35,500
Enterprise governance modernization with board training and new policies
$ 42,400
Implementing a new business plan with technical advisors’ support
$ 113,000
Hiring a fisheries director and coordinator for improved management
$ 74,000
Development of an updated fisheries risk management system
Eligibility
- The applicant must be one of the 35 Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, or Peskotomuhkati (MMPFN) First Nations in the Gaspé region of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Nova Scotia, affected by the Supreme Court of Canada Marshall Decision.
- All applications must be reviewed and verified by the Business Development Team (BDT) before eligibility for funding.
- The proposed activities must be aligned with the CFE (communal commercial fishing enterprise) Business Development Plan and support its implementation.
- The application must include a completed AICFI Application Form, a detailed budget, and a letter of support signed by the Chief or a Band Council Resolution (BCR) authorizing submission.
Who is eligible?
- Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy (Peskotomuhkati) First Nations communities in the Gaspé region of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia affected by the Supreme Court of Canada Marshall Decision
Who is not eligible
- No specific information is provided regarding companies or industries that are not eligible for the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Capacity Building (Business Development) grant.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries, wages, and related costs for positions supporting business operations, such as Fisheries Director, Fisheries Coordinator, Assistant Fisheries Coordinator, Bookkeeper, or Fisheries Management System (FMS) Coordinator.
- Business and technical assistance related to enterprise development.
- Support for governance design and enhancement of management practices.
- Accounting and accountability measures, including enterprise risk management.
- Communications related to business development activities.
- Travel costs directly associated with business operations development.
- Administrative expenses required to implement the Business Development Plan.
Eligible geographic areas
- Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) First Nations in the Gaspé region of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia affected by the Supreme Court of Canada Marshall Decision
Selection criteria
- Alignment of proposed activities with the CFE’s Business Development Plan.
- Clarity and completeness of the application and supporting business case, including a detailed work plan and budget information.
- Support and verification of the application by the Business Development Team (BDT).
- Inclusion of a letter of support from the Chief or a Band Council Resolution.
- Demonstrated capacity to complete proposed activities within the fiscal year.
How to apply
1
Develop business plan and workplan
- Work with the Business Development Team (BDT) to develop your Community Fishing Enterprise (CFE) Business Development Plan and supporting business case
- Develop and document all planned activities and supporting information for the grant application
- Ensure proposed activities align with CFE objectives and sustainability
2
Prepare application documents
- Complete the AICFI Capacity Building (Business Development) Application Form
- Prepare a detailed budget for each activity
- Gather a letter of support from the Chief or Band Council Resolution (BCR)
- Attach the Business Development Plan implementation workplan
3
Review and verification with BDT
- Have the Business Development Team (BDT) review and verify your application and supporting documents prior to submission
- Ensure all required documents and information are provided
- Confirm alignment between the proposed activities and the Business Development Plan
4
Submit application to AICFI
- Submit the completed application form, supporting documents, budget, and letter of support/BCR to the AICFI Program Authority
- Applications may be submitted prior to April 1 for the next fiscal year
5
Application assessment and decision
- DFO reviews the application for completeness and verifies eligibility
- DFO confirms the application is supported by BDT and fits with AICFI objectives
- If approved, a Contribution Agreement will be drafted for ratification by the Chief and DFO
Additional information
- Support from the Business Development Team (BDT) is provided at no cost to the applicant.
- All information provided in the application and supporting documentation, as well as collaboration with the BDT, will be kept confidential by the Program Authority.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit applications as early as possible in the fiscal year, as notional funding may be re-allocated after July 31.
- A letter of support from the Chief or Band Council Resolution must be included with the application.
Contacts
AICFI-IPCIA.XNCR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
QC, Canada
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Capacity Building (Business Development) Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Capacity Building (Business Development). This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
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