Quebec Fisheries Fund — Infrastructure

• The applicant must reside in Quebec and be involved in fish and seafood harvesting, processing, aquaculture, or activities supporting these sectors.
• Eligible recipients include commercial, for-profit enterprises such as cooperatives, sole proprietorships, incorporated entities, and partnerships.
• Non-commercial, non-profit enterprises like academics, industry associations, post-secondary institutions, research and innovation institutions, and Indigenous organizations or groups not classified as commercial enterprises are also eligible.
• Applicants must have the legal capacity to enter into a contribution agreement.

Who is eligible?

• Commercial, for-profit enterprises, including cooperatives, sole proprietorships, incorporated entities, and partnerships (unincorporated businesses owned by more than one person)
• Non-commercial, non-profit enterprises such as academics, industry associations, post-secondary institutions, and research and innovation institutions
• Indigenous organizations or groups that are not commercial enterprises

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies are not eligible for the Quebec Fisheries Fund grant. They include:

• Non-Canadian companies
• Public institutions
• Government departments and agencies

Eligible expenses

• Training costs.
• Publication services.
• Materials and supplies.
• Maintenance and repairs.
• Conferences and meetings costs.
• Printing and imaging costs.
• Travel costs and related expenses.
• Communications research services.
• Construction costs and related expenses.
• Purchase or rental of machinery and equipment.
• Insurance expenses related to agreement activities.
• Costs associated with building or operating permits.
• Telecommunications, communications and network services.
• Postage, transport, express services and road transport costs.
• Indirect administrative costs up to 10% of all other eligible costs.
• Professional and technical services, and other contractual services.
• Rental, leasing or chartering of office space, rooms, groups of rooms, a building or facilities.
• Cost and expenses associated with obtaining eco-certification or similar certifications.
• Salaries, employee benefits and other labor costs, including mandatory benefits from the employer.
• Costs associated with attending or giving presentations at conferences, symposia, workshops, meetings or exhibitions.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec, Canada

• Determination of recipient eligibility based on the program's criteria.
• Assessment of eligible activities and costs within the project.
• Verification of adherence to the maximum funding amounts and stacking limits.
• Evaluation of the project's contribution to one or more objectives of the Quebec Fisheries Fund, such as innovation, infrastructure improvement, and scientific partnerships.
• Specific component objectives: Innovation: Contribution to the development or commercialization of new technologies or products, addressing major industry issues, and enhancing sustainability and productivity.
• Infrastructures: Adoption or adaptation of new technologies to improve sector efficiency, addressing major industry challenges, and increasing competitiveness and sustainability.
• Science partnerships: Enhancement of understanding and adaptation to ecosystem changes, potential to inform resource management, and technology transfer.
• Degree of collaboration and the extent of benefits to the sector, with an emphasis on multi-stakeholder engagement.
• Project rationale, including feasibility, profitability, benefits to Quebec's economy, and the likelihood of achieving results within the proposed time frame.
• Evaluation of technical, financial, and managerial capacity to implement the project successfully.
• Consideration of projects deemed key by Quebec or aligned with Canada's priorities, with attention to maximizing sector benefits in case of similar projects.

• The Quebec Fisheries Fund program is effective from April 24, 2019, and will conclude on March 31, 2024, or when allocated funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
• Intellectual property rights arising from a project are conferred to the recipient or may be negotiated between the parties involved for usage rights.
• Canada’s official languages obligations will be adhered to, ensuring bilingual services and promoting vitality in official language minority communities.
• The management of intellectual property includes potential negotiation for a license, benefiting public purposes without affecting the recipient's objectives negatively.
• Recipients must report actual costs incurred, financial assistance received sources, and outcomes of activities within their financial and performance reporting obligations.
• Non-repayable contributions to non-profit organizations and certain for-profit organizations are outlined, while repayable contributions are provided under specific conditions related to project success or recipient requests.