Fisheries & Aquaculture Grants in Ontario: 14 Funding Programs Currently Available
If you’re looking for grants for a fishery or aquaculture business, you’re in the right place!
Because we have the most comprehensive, up-to-date guide on grants and other types of funding for entrepreneurs in fisheries and aquaculture.
In this guide you’ll learn what’s available, eligibility requirements, how much you can get, and much more!
What Can Fisheries & Aquaculture Business Grants Be Used For?
Fisheries & Aquaculture business grants can be used to pay for many aspects of starting or running a business. Here are some of the uses that are covered by programs in our grants database:
See the sections below for a complete list of grants and other funding programs available for the fisheries & aquaculture industries.
How Much Grant Money Can I Get for My Fisheries & Aquaculture Business?
In our database we currently have grants of up to $40,000.
Am I Eligible for a Fisheries & Aquaculture Business Grant? Common Eligibility Criteria
Two of the most common questions we get asked at Ontario Business Grants are “Am I eligible?” and “How do I qualify?”.
We analyzed the Fisheries & Aquaculture business grants in our grants database, and these are the most common qualifications we identified:
Note: these are just the most common eligibility criteria.
Fisheries & Aquaculture Business Grants for Ontario: Current Grants Available
In the table below we list the grants currently available to Ontario fisheries & aquaculture businesses.
To learn more about each program, just click the program name and you’ll be taken to a web page that provides detailed information on the program, including eligibility, the dollar amount of the program, and how to apply for the grant:
$5,000,000.00
Grant
The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in southwestern Ontario make investments to:
1. Grow their businesses
2. Improve productivity
3. Invest in innovation and skills development
4. Pursue new markets
5. Generate broad positive regional economic impact
6. Create new good, sustainable jobs
A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations, that will result in benefits to the organization such as business growth or access to new markets.
No fixed amount
Grant
Quebec Fisheries Fund’s Science Partnership stream is designed to enable the creation of partnerships that:
1. improve knowledge of the impacts of ecosystem shifts on commercial fisheries;
2. support the implementation of sustainable harvesting technologies.
No fixed amount
Grant
Quebec Fisheries Fund’s Innovation stream is designed to encourage the development of new products and technologies in the harvesting, aquaculture and fish processing sectors.
No fixed amount
Grant
Quebec Fisheries Fund’s Infrastructure stream is designed to encourage the use of new technologies or processes to support the sustainable development of the sector.
$125,000.00
Grant
The Grow Ontario Market Initiative provides funding to primary producers, processors and industry organizations to find and develop domestic or export market opportunities.
You may use the funding to grow your business through:
1. Marketing analysis and planning
2. New product development
3. Marketing activities
No fixed amount
Grant
As part of its commitment to the advancement of scientific inquiry in ocean and freshwater science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) makes available a suite of programs that encourage scientific research and related scientific activities and dissemination of scientific knowledge in areas that are relevant to the mandate of the Department.
$5,000,000.00
Grant
The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in eastern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in eastern Ontario make investments to:
1. Grow their businesses
2. Improve productivity
3. Invest in innovation and skills development
4. Pursue new markets
5. Generate broad positive regional economic impact
6. Create new good, sustainable jobs
A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations, that will result in benefits to the organization such as business growth or access to new markets.
No fixed amount
Grant
DFO’s Indigenous Marine Servicing Initiative (IMSI) is designed to increase Indigenous participation in the marine industry supply chain, which supports Indigenous communities and commercial fishing enterprises (CFEs) that want to expand and diversify into Indigenous marine-related service industries.
No fixed amount
Grant
DFO’s Ecosystems and Oceans Science Contribution Framework provides funding to build expertise in ocean and freshwater science and technology in areas that support the mission of the Department to increase its understanding of ocean and freshwater environments. Through this, DFO seeks to better protect, sustain and restore fisheries resources as well as the aquatic ecosystems that support them.
no fixed amount
Grant
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada launched the Global Innovation Clusters to support business-led innovation and large-scale collaboration among industry leaders, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and post‑secondary institutions, to develop and scale high-potential technologies in advanced manufacturing, agri‑food, clean technology, digital technology, health, bioscience and clean resources, infrastructure and transportation.
Cluster support programs:
1. Advanced manufacturing (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Next Generation Manufacturing cluster. automation and robotics; machine vision; inspection and sensors; simulations and modelling; additive manufacturing; and advanced materials manufacturing);
2. Digital Health and Geospatial Analytics (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster in the areas of: Artificial intelligence and digital enablement for health – using artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery and connect it to real-world, evidence-based clinical research; and Geospatial Analytics – using digital geospatial technologies to solve compelling challenges in areas such as agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring, transportation, and clean energy);
3. Ocean (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster in the areas of: bio assets; intelligent ocean assets; coastal resilience; and pollution remediation);
4. Sustainable Protein Production (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Protein Industries Supercluster in the areas of: genetics and genomics; pre‑breeding crop development and plant technologies; microalgal and macroalgal protein; microbial communities; processing and ingredients; food safety, traceability and sustainability);
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Logistics (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s AI- Powered Supply Chains Supercluster (Scale AI) in the areas of: transportation and warehousing; condition of infrastructure and goods; cybersecurity for logistics; and Canadian logistics AI‑powered modelling.
No fixed amount
Grant
The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) aims to:
ensure the fish and seafood sector in B.C. is positioned for long-term environmental and economic sustainability
support the protection and restoration of wild Pacific salmon and other fish stocks
No fixed amount
Grant
The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is intended to help the fish and seafood sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to transition to meet the growing demand for seafood globally. Its aim is to bring high value, high quality and sustainable products to markets at home and around the world.
It supports: innovation to encourage new products and technologies, infrastructure to encourage capital investments in new products, processes or technologies, and science partnerships between industry, academia, and other research institutions to improve knowledge.
No fixed amount
Grant
This Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund supports efforts that will help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species.
Priority will be given to projects to focus on:
improving relationships with provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples and key stakeholders
involving multiple partners
providing Canadians with tools to take action on aquatic invasive species
monitoring and prevention of aquatic invasive species