Marine Management Organisation

Could Marine Management Organisation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Where they fund: England
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Online form

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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About Marine Management Organisation

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by DEFRA. Its mission is to enable sustainable growth in English marine waters, balancing economic development with ecological stewardship through evidence-based regulation, marine planning, stakeholder engagement, and enforcement. The MMO funds projects that support sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and marine conservation, blending regulatory oversight with facilitative funding. It operates structured grant schemes to advance responsible marine resource use and coastal community resilience.

What Marine Management Organisation funds

The MMO funds projects that support sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and marine conservation across England's marine and coastal areas, including English territorial and offshore waters. Supported activities include facilitating new growth in markets through innovative regional distribution, developing infrastructure to sell seafood landed into English ports or processed in England to domestic consumers, and helping the catching and processing sectors connect directly with consumers. Projects must have the potential to generate longer-term sustainable benefit to the seafood industry and create supply chain resilience.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include owners of UK or EU registered fishing vessels, commercial fishers, producer organisations, aquaculture businesses, non-governmental organisations, universities, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Organisations must be based in England and projects must focus on England's marine and coastal areas. The MMO also accepts applications from individuals, community groups, and public-private partnerships. Applicants cannot have been convicted of fraud under the European Fisheries Fund or the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, or of a serious infringement in the 12 months before applying.

What Marine Management Organisation doesn't fund

The MMO does not fund projects where applicants have been convicted of fraud under the European Fisheries Fund or the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, or where serious infringements have occurred. It also excludes large businesses and projects that have already been fully funded or are seeking full funding from other schemes. Projects that threaten marine protections or lack evidence of environmental benefit are not supported.

How they like to fund

The MMO provides one-off grants through structured schemes. Some schemes require match funding, while others do not. The MMO welcomes unsolicited applications and funds projects that align with its mission of sustainable marine growth.

How much does Marine Management Organisation give?

Marine Management Organisation runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 25 sourced facts

Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme (DSSS)Currently closed

Up to £100,000

Online application form
Single-year grants

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)Currently closed

Two-stage process
Match funding required

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Marine Management Organisation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

["Facilitate new growth in markets through innovative regional distribution","Support the development of infrastructure to sell seafood landed into English ports, or seafood processed in England to domestic consumers","Help develop the infrastructure necessary for the catching and processing sectors to connect directly with consumers","Has the potential to generate longer-term sustainable benefit to the seafood industry, creating supply chain resilience"]

Where they fund

England

They don't fund

Your project has already been fully funded or is seeking full funding from other schemesYou have been convicted of a serious infringement under Article 42 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 or Article 90 (1) of Regulation (EC) NO 1224/2009 in the 12 months before you applyYou have been convicted of fraud in the context of any fisheries funding schemes.Because the fishing industry is a sector that has benefitted from other state aid funding, this fund is subject to the temporary state aid framework, which may mean some projects and organisations may not be applicable. This applies if your undertaking has received other forms of support provided under the temporary state aid framework including the Fisheries Response Fund (FRF), Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILs) and Bounce Back Loan scheme, and the total amount of benefits you have received from all schemes has exceeded €120,000You can’t apply for and receive EMFF funding if you’ve been convicted of fraud under either the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) or the EMFFYou can’t apply for and receive EMFF funding if you’ve been convicted of an offence that the MMO or European Union considers to be a ‘serious infringement’ or fraud, in the 12 months before applyingYou can’t apply if you are not an eligible applicant typeIf your business is a large business see SME guidance for advice on thisYour vessel is not registered as a fishing vessel in the European UnionYou are not a commercial fisherman

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Environment

How to apply to Marine Management Organisation

Marine Management Organisation takes applications via online form.

Published programme route: online application form.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Marine Management Organisation's application asks

We hold the 29 questions from Marine Management Organisation's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Full name:”

Question 2

“Business name: (This must be the same as the name of your business bank account)”

27 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Marine Management Organisation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Marine Management Organisation provide?

Marine Management Organisation runs 2 grant programmes — Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme (DSSS): Up to £100,000.

Where does Marine Management Organisation fund charities?

Marine Management Organisation funds charities operating in England.

Does Marine Management Organisation accept unsolicited applications?

Marine Management Organisation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

How do I apply for funding from Marine Management Organisation?

Marine Management Organisation takes applications via online form. Published programme route: online application form.