Marine Fishing Improvement Fund
Marine Fishing Improvement Fund supports organizations working on Virginia’s marine fisheries, funding research, seafood development, and fisherman education to improve fishery management and commercial fishing.
Funder: Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Due Dates: April 15, 2027 (annual application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Past commercial project awards include $10,500–$55,900 (2010–2011 examples)
Summary: Supports projects that manage and improve Virginia’s marine fisheries and commercial fishing sector.
Key Information: New projects are difficult to fund because limited funds are available for commercial projects.
Description
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission administers the Marine Fishing Improvement Fund to manage and improve marine fisheries and support Virginia’s commercial fishing sector. Authorized uses include seafood product promotion and development, mandatory reporting and stock assessment, education for commercial fishermen, and conservation and management strategies identified by the General Assembly and the Commission. The fund can also support public information distributed with gear licenses and retain commercial fishermen for replenishment, research, and stock assessment work.
Established in 1993, the fund receives specified commercial fishing license and registration fees. Most collections support commercial licensing and mandatory reporting. The Commercial Fishing Advisory Board advises the Commission on expenditures, and the Commission approves projects.
