Angling Trust welcomes Fisheries and Seafood Scheme – but calls for stronger support for recreational sea fishing

The Angling Trust has welcomed the relaunch of the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), which will distribute £132 million in funding from Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund over the next five years – a total of £304 million will be available in England over 12 years.

The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) aims to modernise the fishing and seafood sector, build resilience, and support coastal regeneration. Delivered by the Marine Management Organisation on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the updated scheme introduces greater flexibility, including multi-year funding and broader eligibility. This creates new opportunities for coastal communities and the wider fishing sector.

However, the Angling Trust is clear that more must be done to ensure recreational sea fishing can fully benefit. Recreational sea fishing contributes significantly to coastal economies across England, supporting charter businesses, tackle shops, tourism and hospitality. It also delivers important social and wellbeing benefits, connecting people to the marine environment.

Hannah Rudd, Head of Marine at the Angling Trust, said: “For sea anglers, this funding is a real chance to improve the places we fish, the boats we go out on, and the communities that make our sector thrive. From better access and facilities to stronger local charter businesses, investment like this can make a tangible difference to everyday angling experiences around our coast.

But for that to happen, the scheme must work for the small clubs, charter skippers and grassroots organisations at the heart of recreational sea fishing. Barriers for smaller applicants remain, and we welcome the opportunity to work with the UK Government to make this funding more accessible in the years ahead.

We are also clear that charter boats, important to the recreational fishing sector across the country, face many of the same pressures as the small-scale commercial fleet yet are not included in the ring-fenced support. That is a missed opportunity to invest in a sector delivering real economic and social value to coastal communities.

We encourage anglers, clubs and charter operators to look closely at what this fund could support in their local area, whether improving access, facilities or local opportunities, and to seek support from the MMO, which is available to help with applications. The Angling Trust will continue pushing to ensure recreational sea fishing receives the recognition and investment needed to flourish within our coastal communities.”

Barriers remain for small-scale applicants

While the scheme has evolved in response to stakeholder feedback, the Angling Trust highlights that barriers still exist – particularly for smaller organisations and volunteer-led clubs within the recreational fishing sector.

Simplifying processes, removing match funding requirements, improving accessibility and ensuring proportionate requirements for smaller grants will be critical to unlocking the full potential of this funding.

The Angling Trust welcomes the opportunity to work with UK Government to address these challenges over the lifetime of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, ensuring that funding reaches all parts of the sector and those who are most in need of UK Government support.

Charter sector overlooked in ring-fenced support

The Trust also notes that while around £6 million has been ring-fenced for small-scale coastal fishers, charter boat businesses – despite facing many of the same operational, regulatory and cost pressures – are not currently included as being prioritised.

Charter operators are often small, owner-operated businesses embedded in coastal communities. They navigate rising fuel costs, complex regulations, seasonal income and increasing overheads, much like the inshore commercial fleet.

The Angling Trust believes their exclusion represents a missed opportunity to support a sector that delivers clear economic and social value and will continue to advocate for more inclusive approaches in future funding rounds.

A major opportunity for anglers and coastal communities

The Angling Trust is encouraging anglers, charter operators, clubs and community groups to explore how the scheme could support projects that:

• Improve access to fishing and participation
• Upgrade facilities and infrastructure
• Support skills, training and local employment
• Strengthen coastal communities and local economies

With funding rounds open and panel deadlines approaching in 2026, now is the time for the recreational sector to engage.

Support available for applications

To help the recreational angling sector access this funding, the MMO’s Fisheries and Seafood Support (FaSS) team is offering guidance and support throughout the application process.

Charter businesses, angling clubs and other organisations are encouraged to get in touch via the FaSS support email to discuss ideas and strengthen applications.

Early engagement is strongly recommended to maximise success.

If your business relates to recreational sea fishing and you are interested in applying, please contact the MMO Grants Team on 0208 026 5539 or email [email protected] for support with your online application.