Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund Open for Project Development Grants

Funding is available to deliver project development work such as the baseline surveys and feasibility studies which are required to underpin marine and coastal restoration in Scotland.

The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) supports practical improvements to Scottish marine and coastal ecosystems. Most enhancement projects will initially focus on salt marsh, seagrass, sand dunes, native oysters, marine birds and cetaceans. However, proposals for research to inform a broader range of potential marine and coastal enhancement opportunities across all relevant species and habitats are invited.

SMEEF is currently inviting bids for Project Development Grants which support capital or resource to deliver project development work such as the baseline surveys and feasibility studies which are required to underpin marine and coastal restoration. Projects which seek to assess the effectiveness of management actions required to achieve species and habitat recovery are also welcome.

There is no maximum or minimum physical size of project. In general the minimum grant is £10,000 and the maximum is £25,000. The funder hopes to fund one exceptional award of up to £100,000.

Applications may be accepted from constituted organisations in Scotland, including registered charities and trusts, local authorities and other public sector organisations, private individuals or companies (not-for-profit) and collaborative partnerships. The fund will not be accepting applications where for-profit companies are the main applicant, however they can make up the minority interest of a consortium bid.

The deadline for applications is 9 January 2023.

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)