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Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program
Support for commercial fisheries in the NWT
Funding available
$ 30,000
Deadline
April 1, 2027
Opened April 1, 2026
Location
Northwest Territories, Canada
Overview
The Commercial Fishery Support Program aims to create new jobs and opportunities for fishers in the Northwest Territories by helping to defer costs, supplement prices, and encourage recruitment. It supports fuel rebates, volume incentives, recruitment initiatives for commercial fishers, and research and sustainability projects.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase production or service capacity
- Increase operational productivity
- Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Northwest Territories
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Support for commercial fishing operations through fuel and volume-based incentives
- Recruitment of experienced fishers from outside the NWT
- Support for new NWT commercial fishers
- Research and sustainability projects for the commercial fisheries sector
Documents Needed
- Application form
- Business or applicant information and licensing
- Project details and work plan
- Estimated costs and sources of funding
- Supporting documents such as catch records, sales receipts, licenses, vessel certification, quotes, or letters of support, as applicable
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Commercial Fishery Support Program update
The Commercial Fishery Support Program page now says new program details are coming soon, with funding, deadline, eligibility, and application guidance removed and regional ITI office contacts shown instead.
The Commercial Fishery Support Program landing page was reduced to a placeholder notice saying new program details are coming soon, replacing the earlier program overview and funding information. The page no longer shows the March 31 deadline, who can apply, required documents, or the application instructions, and it now directs applicants to regional ITI office phone numbers and emails instead. The funding terms that were previously listed on the page are no longer visible, including the $0.10/lb fuel rebate, the 2023 summer season volume incentive amounts of $2,500 at 50,000 lbs, $5,000 at 75,000 lbs, $10,000 at 100,000 lbs, and $15,000 at 150,000 lbs, the up to $30,000 recruitment incentives, and the up to $20,000 research and sustainability project support.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Commercial fishers
- NWT industry organizations
- NWT research bodies and institutions
- NWT Indigenous governments
- NWT Indigenous organizations
Eligible expenses
- Fuel rebates based on fish volume delivered or sold
- Incentive payments tied to catch volumes
- Operational expenses, transportation, and storage for recruitment initiatives
- Training support, transportation, and storage for emerging fishers
- Research and development costs, including wages, equipment, and related operating costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities or purchases that started before approval
- Items already purchased before approval
Eligible geographic areas
- Northwest Territories
Selection criteria
- Alignment with the program’s strategic objectives
- Potential for broad benefits to the commercial fisheries sector
- Contribution to local food security
- Use of a public evaluation grid
How to apply
- Step 1: Complete the application
- Fill out the application form on the ITI website.
- Provide applicant or business information, project details, and estimated costs and funding sources.
- Step 2: Prepare supporting information
- Gather required documents such as licensing, catch records, sales receipts, vessel certification, and project proposal materials, as applicable.
- Include any relevant quotes, letters of support, or financial assessment materials.
- Step 3: Submit to ITI
- Send the completed application and required documents to your regional ITI office for review and approval.
- Applications must be submitted before beginning supported activities.
- Step 4: Receive decision
- ITI reviews the application and sends written notice of the decision.
- If approved, only the eligible costs identified in the review will be funded.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by ITI after submission.
- Applicants receive written notice within 15 business days of review.
- Only approved eligible costs are funded.
- Applications must be approved before supported activities begin.
- An appeal can be filed in writing within 30 days of the decision.
Additional information
- New program details are coming soon; contact your local ITI regional office for more information.
- Beaufort Delta Region: 867-678-8023, Beaufort_Delta_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
- Deh Cho Region: 867-695-7500, Dehcho_ITI@gov.nt.ca; Sahtu Region: 867-587-7171 ext. 1001, Sahtu_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
- South Slave Region: 867-872-8046, South_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca; North Slave Region: 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program Program
What is the Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program?
The Commercial Fishery Support Program aims to create new jobs and opportunities for fishers in the Northwest Territories by helping to defer costs, supplement prices, and encourage recruitment. It supports fuel rebates, volume incentives, recruitment initiatives for commercial fishers, and research and sustainability projects.
How much funding can be received?
Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program Funds up to $30,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program program?
To be eligible for the Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program program, you must:
Must meet a program stream requirement.
Commercial fishers need valid licensing.
New entrants must show sector experience.
What expenses are eligible under Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program?
Fuel rebates based on fish volume delivered or sold
Incentive payments tied to catch volumes
Operational expenses, transportation, and storage for recruitment initiatives
Training support, transportation, and storage for emerging fishers
Research and development costs, including wages, equipment, and related operating costs
Who can I contact for more information about the Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program?
You can contact Northwest Territories Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) by email at commercialfish@gov.nt.ca or by phone at 867-767-9219 ext. 63080.
Where is the Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program available?
The Commercial Fishery Support (CFSP) Pilot Program program is available the province of Northwest Territories.