Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed today’s announcement that two schemes to support the fishing and aquaculture sectors will open to supplement previous fuel schemes earlier in the year.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon secured agreement that the balance of funds from the €15 million allocated by the Government for initial fuel schemes earlier this year for owners of registered vessels can be utilised for the purpose.

 Minster Canney said: “High fuel prices have had a severe impact on our fishing and aquaculture sectors. The proposed Fuel Support Schemes will help with their economic and environmental sustainability in the present time.”

The Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme and the Aquaculture Business Vessel Fuel Support Scheme, administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), will provide targeted support to eligible vessel owners and aquaculture producers with fuel costs.

Payments under both schemes will be through the provision of lump sums, calculated on previously receipted expenditure. Applicants do not need to gather or submit fuel receipts.

Applicants who received an offer under the first call should not submit a new application for the same vessels or aquaculture business. BIM will create an application for them and contact them directly with the relevant information.

New applications may be submitted by eligible operators who did not receive an offer or payment under the first call. Under the Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme, an existing applicant may also submit a new application for an additional vessel that was not included in their original application.

The Aquaculture Business Vessel Fuel Support Scheme is open to eligible producers of salmon, rope-grown mussels and rope-grown seaweed.

Applications will open at 11am on Monday 16 November and close at 5pm on 27 November 2026.

Full details of the schemes, including eligibility requirements and application arrangements, are available at BIM.ie.