Marine Fund Scotland 2024-2025: general guidance notes

Annex A - The Marine Fund Scotland 2024-25 outcomes and criteria

Category: Innovation and economic benefit

Outcome 1: Established and emerging marine sectors are innovative, entrepreneurial, productive and internationally competitive.

To meet this outcome, your project should:

• explore, develop or deliver/implement innovative or entrepreneurial approaches/techniques (Criterion 1A);
• deliver measurable economic benefits for communities (and Scotland) in areas where commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out, in particular where people are experiencing poverty or disadvantage across different aspects of their lives (for example according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) (Criterion 1B); or/and
• where relevant, support the development of a skilled and well supported workforce through providing attractive opportunities for employment in areas in which commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out; and/or support training/re-training for the purposes of the economic development or social improvement of areas in which commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out. (Criterion 1C).
• “Economic benefit” means improvement in one or more economic measures (to the local communities and/or the wider economy of Scotland). These measures could include (but are not limited to):
• gross value added
• labour market conditions (unemployment, skill shortages, etc.)
• education
• supply chain intelligence and resilience
• price stability

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 1A:

For example, a project that will develop new technology, techniques, or look to use new approaches to modernise or improve the way in which something is done. This might include:

• delivery of technical developments in areas such as discard reduction.
• developing understanding of the challenges and changes that climate change poses for commercial fish and aquaculture businesses and ways in which they can adapt.
• supporting the delivery of scientific research and/or contributing towards an evidence base for new regulation, for example, to conserve, enhance or restore the marine and aquatic environment or to maintain or improve the health and safety of persons involved in commercial fish or aquaculture activities.
• collaboration between scientists and industry to develop commercial fish or aquaculture activities.
• delivery of relevant peer-reviewed research.
• development of a prototype(s) or delivery of a pilot(s).
• early development of marine start-ups involved in commercial fish or aquaculture activities.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 1B:

For example, this might include:

• increasing local employment opportunities.
• developing local services.
• new entrants to the marine sectors.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 1C:

For example, this might include:

• supporting the development and/or delivery of non-mandatory training, e.g. business or technical skills.
• promoting a diverse workforce.

Category: Sustainable, high quality seafood

Outcome 2: Scotland is a global leader in healthy, quality, sustainably-harvested and farmed Blue Foods, for our own population and beyond.

To meet this outcome, your project should:

• demonstrate innovation in the growing and/or harvesting of marine animals and plants (“Blue Foods”) and/or improve animal health and welfare in order to:
  • improve sustainability, quality and/or nutrition of Blue Foods and/or
  • deliver a positive impact or a reduced negative impact on biodiversity (Criterion 2A);
• invest in the Scottish supply chain, promoting local vertical integration and clusters which work to develop the local supply chain and bring benefits for local communities (Criterion 2B);
• harness or create opportunities for Scotland’s marine produce to be widely available to and accessed by the people of Scotland (Criterion 2C); or/and
• where relevant, promote Scottish seafood abroad and help develop its international reputation and diversification into emerging and developing markets (Criterion 2D; noting that grant funding can only be offered in relation to Scotland, the Scottish zone or Scottish fishing boats).

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 2A:

For example, this might include:

• development or implementation of new practices that improve quality.
• reduction of negative effects on the wider ecosystem from artificial feeding, disease treatment, predator deterrents, etc. (where relevant).
• supporting a shift in target species of fishing vessels in response to species distribution changes contributed to by climate change.
• improving handling and refrigeration on board vessels.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 2B:

For example, this might include:

• development/improvement of local sales infrastructure.
• development of innovative/consumer-friendly/affordable/accessible products.
• development of premium markets.
• retaining value within coastal communities.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 2C:

For example, this might include:

• investment in additional sustainable landing and processing capacity.
• investment in aquaculture production and processing capacity.
• development of product lines for Scottish consumers from underutilised or exported species, such as mackerel, herring, nephrops and by-catch species.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 2D:

For example, this might include:

• development of local offshore/onshore communication hubs and strategic plans.
• enhancing supply chain resilience, such as improved cold storage.

Category: Achieving net zero

Outcome 3: Scotland’s Blue Economy is resilient to climate change, contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, with marine sectors decarbonised, resource efficient and supporting Scotland’s Net Zero commitments.

To meet this outcome, your project should:

• support a transition to low/zero carbon practices, including in supply chains – reducing reliance on fossil fuels, reducing carbon emissions (greenhouse gas emissions), reducing food miles, establishing low carbon routes to market, etc. (Criterion 3A); or/and
• where relevant, reduce, recycle or reuse waste products (Criterion 3B).
• “Climate change mitigation” means reducing human-induced climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the uptake and storage of them.
• “Climate change adaptation” means living with, and increasing the resilience to the impacts of climate change, addressing climate risks and opportunities.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 3A:

For example, this might include:

• testing novel engine technologies to support climate change mitigation, as part of a study or trial to test feasibility and impact.
• support for industry to identify/develop and adopt low/zero carbon practices.
• developing the use of renewable energy in the course of carrying out or supporting commercial fish or aquaculture activities.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 3B:

For example, this might include:

• removal of marine litter.
• removal of “ghost” fishing gear.
• promotion of circular economy approaches.
• adoption at scale of alternatives to single-use plastics/non-recyclable materials.
• waste reduction.
• improving waste management of end-of-life fishing gear or marine litter.

Category: Successful communities

Outcome 4: Thriving, resilient, regenerated, healthy communities have more equal access to the benefits that ocean resources provide.

To meet this outcome, your project should:

• deliver measurable social benefits for communities in Scotland in areas where commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out, in particular where people are experiencing poverty or disadvantage across different aspects of their lives (for example according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) (Criterion 4A); or/and
• where relevant, support community-led local development for the purposes of the economic development or social improvement of areas where commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out (Criterion 4B).
• “Social benefits” means improvements in one or more possible social measures, including qualitative measures (to the local communities or the people and/or wider economy of Scotland). These measures could include (but are not limited to):
• community cohesion
• education
• income and job security
• health and wellbeing
• access to green and blue space
• community resilience
• to the extent that these fall within Scottish Ministers’ statutory grant funding powers which are being relied upon, in accordance with the Scheme established by the 2022 Regulations.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 4A:

For example, this might include:

• local infrastructure projects or community projects for the purposes of the economic development or social improvement of areas where commercial fish or aquaculture activities are carried out.
• educational projects that help communities to understand, protect and connect to their local water environment.
• projects that promote recreational angling as a low carbon, nature-based activity that increases health and wellbeing.

Examples of types of activity under Criterion 4B:

For example, this might include:

• establishing local co-operatives.
• providing opportunities for people to participate in governance and decision making forums about Scotland’s sea, coasts and interlinked freshwater environments.

Category: Delivering quality projects

Outcome 5: Projects funded by the Marine Fund Scotland 2024-25 represent value for money, are delivered successfully, show clearly how they have met their outcomes, and share lessons so that projects can develop and improve in the future.

To meet this outcome, your project must:

• be able to demonstrate that it is good value for money (Criterion 5A). The return on investment may be wider than a financial return, and might include: reduction in waste, reduced resource consumption, increased community socioeconomic benefit, etc; and
• be deliverable within the planned budget, i.e. you must set out clear time frames, key milestones, risks and mitigations for delivering your project (including the impact of considering global supply chain fragility and the need to consider appropriate contingencies, etc., where relevant) (Criterion 5B); and
• be clear how delivery against the Marine Fund Scotland 2024-25 outcomes will be achieved and demonstrated (Criterion 5C).
• “Value for money” is the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes.