International Fund for Fishing Safety announces first funding round

The International Fund for Fishing Safety, a grant giving programme providing financial support for on-the-ground safety initiatives that aim to improve safety standards in the global fishing industry has today announced its first open funding call.

The announcement was made at the International Fishing Industry Safety and Health (IFISH6) Conference 2024, held at the UN FAO Headquarters in Rome. This international conference is one of the only opportunities for researchers, safety and health professionals, instructors, workers, and experts from across the global fishing industry to come together and share information to improve safety in one of the world’s most dangerous occupations.

The Fund will target areas where there is the most need for improved safety outcomes, particularly Asia – which is home to 80% of fishers and some of the most hazardous and unregulated working environments.

Applications to the Fund will be managed by The Seafarers’ Charity, and decisions made by a steering committee comprising industry experts from across the fishing ecosystem.

Daryl Attwood, Senior Programme Manager at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, said: “The International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS) provides an effective means for Lloyd’s Register Foundation to make a scalable impact on fishing safety, and can be an important vehicle to raise awareness of the global plight of fishers. In partnership with The Seafarers’ Charity and the FISH Platform, we’re confident that we can make a real difference to the lives of fishers across the developing world.”

Tina Barnes, Impact Director at The Seafarers' Charity and one of the speakers at the Conference, spoke about the reason for the Charity’s support for this new Fund:  

"Research by The Seafarers' Charity revealed that financial difficulties are endemic for many of those working in fishing and that is why we are funding a financial resilience programme with Commsave Credit Union, specifically tailored for people working in fishing in the UK.  We recognise that economic necessity can drive risk taking and unsafe practices and this is why we were pleased to be asked by Lloyds Register Foundation to manage this new international Fund. We are delighted to announce that the new International Fund for Fishing Safety is now open to receive grant applications in 2024.  We are keen to fund projects that will raise safety standards and practices in fishing around the world."

You can check if your organisation is eligible to apply for funding via The Seafarers’ Charity website.

Image credits: Shutterstock - OlegD