Northern Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (NICFI) - Expansion and Diversification

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous-owned communal commercial fishing enterprises
• Indigenous-owned aquaculture operations
• Indigenous groups or communities managing redistributive or hybrid fisheries enterprises

Who is not eligible

• Companies or organizations that are eligible for the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI).
• Companies or organizations that are eligible for the Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI).
• Entities not recognized as Indigenous groups or communities.
• Businesses not involved in fisheries or aquaculture sectors managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Eligible expenses

• Upgrades or replacements of vessels.
• Acquisition of additional licences or quotas.
• Purchase of gear and equipment for fishing or fleet operations, including specialized equipment for redistributive fisheries.
• Development or improvement of on-shore facilities such as vessel compounds, gear storage, community freezers, and processing facilities.
• Expenditures related to fisheries-related retail, storage, distribution, and tourism activities.

Eligible geographic areas

• All areas where Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) manages the fishery, excluding those eligible for the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) or Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI).

• Alignment of the project with the applicant’s Business Development Plan.
• Contribution to revenue and profit generation for the community fisheries enterprise.
• Potential for capacity building and employment creation, particularly for Indigenous staff.
• Demonstrated economic sustainability of the project beyond NICFI funding.
• Completeness and quality of the business case, including detailed budget, supporting documents, and estimates of total costs.

• Step 1: Project Development with Business Development Team (BDT)
  • Collaborate with your assigned BDT member to develop a comprehensive project work plan.
  • Prepare supporting business cases aligned with your Community Fishing Enterprise (CFE) Business Development Plan.
  • Gather all necessary supporting documents, such as quotes, permits, detailed budget, and letters of support.
  • Ensure you investigate and document all possible additional sources of funding.
• Step 2: Complete and Compile Application Documents
  • Download and complete the NICFI Expansion and Diversification Application Form.
  • Ensure your application package includes: completed application form, business case, detailed budget, letter of support from an authorized representative, confirmation of minimum 10% cash contribution, and all supporting documents.
• Step 3: Submit Application to Program Authority
  • Send your fully completed application package and attachments, either by mail or email, to the NICFI Program Authority at:
    NICFI Program Authority
    Indigenous Affairs Directorate (IAD)
    Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    200 Kent Street
    Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E6
    DFO.NICFI-IPCIN.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Step 4: Initial Review by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
  • DFO conducts an initial check for completeness and alignment with program objectives.
  • The application is then referred to a Third Party Evaluator (TPE) for in-depth review.
• Step 5: Third Party Evaluation
  • The TPE will review the technical and economic feasibility of the proposal, and may contact your community for a meeting.
  • The TPE prepares an assessment report with recommendations.
• Step 6: Application Review Board Assessment
  • The Application Review Board (ARB), including Indigenous representatives, evaluates the application and TPE report.
  • ARB provides funding recommendations to DFO.
• Step 7: Final Determination and Letter of Offer
  • DFO reviews ARB recommendations and makes the final decision.
  • If approved, DFO sends a Letter of Offer to the applicant, including specific funding details and any conditions.
• Step 8: Acceptance of Offer
  • The applicant’s authorized representative sends written acceptance of the Letter of Offer and its conditions to the Program Authority.
• Step 9: Finalize Contribution Agreement
  • DFO prepares a contribution agreement, which must be signed by both the applicant’s authorized representative and DFO.
  • Only after ratification of the agreement can project expenses be considered eligible for reimbursement.

• Multi-year contribution agreements are permitted, with project funding potentially spanning one to five years.
• All application information and supporting documentation will be held in strict confidence by the reviewing authorities.
• The Business Development Team (BDT) provides advisory services to applicants at no cost to support project development and application preparation.
• Applications can be submitted at any time, but those received by November 30th are guaranteed review within the current fiscal year.