For fish and seafood businesses facing pressure to modernize, improve sustainability, and respond to changing market demands, the Atlantic Fisheries Fund offers meaningful project-based support. Backed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in partnership with Atlantic provincial governments, this program is designed to help the sector move toward higher-value, more innovative, and more sustainably sourced products. It supports a wide range of initiatives across harvesting, aquaculture, and processing, with a strong focus on practical improvements that can strengthen long-term competitiveness.
Funding through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund is non-repayable and tailored to the scope of each project, making it especially relevant for small and medium-sized businesses as well as larger enterprises with ambitious plans. Projects often involve research and development, pilot projects, technology adoption, infrastructure upgrades, or commercialization efforts. There is also a strong emphasis on collaboration, including partnerships with academic institutions, Indigenous organizations, and industry groups, particularly where projects improve scientific understanding of ecosystems or lead to more efficient and sustainable harvesting practices.
While the program operates nationally, the Atlantic component is most active in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, where seafood remains a cornerstone industry. With substantial public investment supporting innovation and sustainability across the sector, this fund can play a key role in advancing growth-focused projects. Exploring the full program details can help determine how your business idea might align with current funding priorities.
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