Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund

Q: How much funding can be received?

Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund?

Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund is funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Government of Canada

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund?

You can contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Q: Where is the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund available?

The Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund program is available across Canada.

Q: Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund program?

Yes, Indigenous Peoples are eligible to apply for the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Funding for fish and seafood businesses

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Up to 70% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : June 17, 2020

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

Get help to cover the costs of addressing the challenges facing the fish and seafood sector, in the form of branding and promotional strategies, access to new markets, ensuring product integrity throughout the supply chain, and increased collaboration.

Activities funded

The Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund supports eligible not-for-profit organizations across several provincial and territorial areas in Canada. This geographical eligibility is in line with the program's objective to enhance the fish and seafood marketing initiatives nationwide.

British Columbia
Saskatchewan
Northwest Territories
Yukon
Ontario
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland and Labrador

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 320,000

Support the branding and export promotion of premium Canadian crab in Asian markets

$ 275,000

Launch a nationwide campaign to promote sustainable Canadian seafood

$ 120,000

Conduct market research to identify new export opportunities for Canadian salmon

$ 400,000

Develop an integrity tracking system for the shrimp supply chain in Canada

$ 65,000

Enhance collaboration in the mussel farming community through capacity development workshops

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's organization type and project focus areas.

The applicant must be a not-for-profit industry organization, such as an association or Indigenous group, operating on a national, regional, or sector-wide basis within the fish and seafood sector.
The applicant must be engaged in or support marketing activities pertinent to the fish and seafood sector.
The project must focus on one or more designated areas, including developing Canadian fish and seafood branding strategies, supporting industry branding and promotion in domestic and/or international markets, addressing market access issues, conducting market research, or building industry capacity.

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants for the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund are predominantly not-for-profit industry organizations operating on a national or sector-wide basis in the fish and seafood sector. These organizations must be active in or supporting marketing activities related to the sector.

Industry associations
Indigenous groups

Eligible expenses

Eligible projects for the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund focus on enhancing the market presence and addressing the marketing challenges of the Canadian fish and seafood sector. These initiatives aim to improve branding, tackle market access issues, and build industry capacity.

Development and implementation of Canadian fish and seafood branding strategies.
Support for industry branding, promotion, and advertising activities in domestic and/or international markets.
Addressing existing or emerging market access issues and meeting consumer demands for product quality and sustainability.
Undertaking market research and intelligence to facilitate entry or expansion into new and existing markets.
Supporting industry capacity development activities to increase collaboration and cooperation.

Eligible geographic areas

Eligible expenses for the grant are associated with activities that support market access, branding, and promotion for the Canadian fish and seafood sector.

Development and implementation of Canadian fish and seafood branding strategies.
Industry branding, promotion, and advertising activities in domestic and/or international markets.
Addressing market access issues and meeting consumer demands for product quality and sustainability.
Conducting market research and intelligence to enter or expand in new and existing markets.
Industry capacity development activities to enhance collaboration and cooperation.

Selection criteria

Yes, the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund evaluates and selects projects based on several criteria that align with its objectives to develop market access, branding, and promotion opportunities for Canada's fish and seafood sector.

Developing and implementing Canadian fish and seafood branding strategies
Supporting industry branding, promotion, and advertising activities in domestic and/or international markets
Addressing existing or emerging market access issues and meeting consumer demands for product quality and sustainability
Undertaking market research and intelligence to facilitate entry or expansion into new and existing markets
Supporting industry capacity development activities to increase collaboration and cooperation

How to apply

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Visit the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund (CFSOF) website.
Navigate to the "Apply to the fund" section.
Submit an expression of interest to discuss the project proposal.
Engage with program representatives to ask questions and receive feedback.
Provide a synopsis of your project as part of the EOI submission.

Full Proposal and Application Submission

Wait to be invited after a successful EOI submission to proceed with the full proposal.
Draft a comprehensive project proposal detailing branding, promotion, market research, or capacity development.
Attach any necessary documents such as market research or collaboration agreements.
Submit the full application through the CFSOF application portal as instructed.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

This fund can be used to adapt to changing consumer demands and explore new market opportunities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund is a strategic partnership between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, designed to maximize industry support.

Documents and links

Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund. 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.

What is the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund?

Who is eligible for the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund program?

To be eligible for the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund program, you must: The applicant must be a not-for-profit industry organization such as an association or Indigenous group. The organization must operate on a national, regional, or sector-wide basis within the fish and seafood sector. Eligible projects should focus on branding, market access, consumer demand, market research, or industry capacity development.