Sea farmers

Licence Loan Program

This program is currently closed.

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Licence Loan Program provides funding to eligible independent fishers to purchase a fishing licence or licence and associated gear.

Comments on Funding:

Required deposit for a new entrant licence only or licence and associated gear loan is a minimum of 5%.
Required deposit for a new species licence only or licence and associated gear loan is a minimum of 10%.

A personal guarantee is taken on all loans.
All loans are subject to an Administration Fee, a Mortgage Registration Fee and/or Personal Property Registration Fee (PPR).
Interest rate is set quarterly but is fixed for term of loan.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

be a Canadian citizen or a registered Nova Scotian company in good standing,
be the age of majority at the time of the application,
have a Fishing Masters Class certificate or five years of experience as captain of a vessel,
meet Department of Fisheries and Oceans eligibility requirements, if a new entrant.
have never held a licence in the commercial fishery (New Entrant), or be current commercial fishery licence holders who wish to diversify into a species for which they have never held a licence (New Species).

Documentation Needed:

The applicant must submit:

the application form,
a detailed five year business plan.

Other Things to Note:

Most probably it's the same program as License(s) & Gear Loan.

Program Contact:

Licence Loan Program

Aquaculture Loan Program

This program is currently closed.

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Aquaculture Loan Program provides loans to develop and sustain aquaculture for finfish, shellfish and seaplants.

Financing is available for: salmonoid seed stock, shellfish seed/spat, collection materials, grow-out equipment and materials, rafts, buoys, floatation devices, anchors, nets, cages for finfish grow-out, small boats, outboard motors and onboard gear handling devices and purchase of existing operations.

Comments on Funding:

Minimum deposit is 10% of requested loan amount.
Security: Chattel mortgage on equipment. Promissory note, personal guarantee and insurance on gear.
All loans are subject to an Administration Fee and a Personal Property Registration (PPR) Fee.
Interest rate is set quarterly but is fixed for term of loan.

When It Ends:

Closed

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

be a Canadian citizen or a registered Nova Scotian company in good standing,
show evidence of competency in aquaculture.

Other Things to Note:

The same program as Aquaculture Loan.

Program Contact:

Aquaculture Loan Program

Seafood Accelerator Program: Market Access Food Safety Program

Amount:

$15,000

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Market Access Food Safety Program assists companies to overcome a specific food safety requirement or obstacle that is preventing them from entering a new market, or in keeping markets open when requirements change.

Specifically, this program will support a limited number of companies with: obtaining Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI) certification which will in turn open more export markets, and meeting the food safety requirements of new markets to support market entry or market expansion.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is up to a maximum of $15,000 per applicant and based on scope and deliverables.
Projects are cost-shared to a maximum of 50/50 with applicants.
Applicants must pay a percentage of their contribution for the project to begin, depending on total project costs.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

March 31, 2023

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

have a head office and licensed seafood processing facility in Nova Scotia,
demonstrate they are meeting the current federal and provincial inspection, regulation and licensing requirements,
have controls in place to ensure the product is handled properly during processing and results in a final product that is not tainted, decomposed, or unwholesome,
not be in contravention of provincial or federal laws related to the fishery.

Application Steps:

submit the completed Market Access Food Safety application online or by email at seafood@perennia.ca,

provide further information if required,

be able to provide a down payment before work begins.

Scheduling of the project may begin immediately upon application approval with a signed quote and project plan.

Other Things to Note:

Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. is a provincial development agency with the mission to help farmers, fishermen and food processors be more prosperous and profitable. It is Nova Scotia’s only technical development agency focused solely on the food sector and maximizing its value.
This program is funded under the provincial Building for Tomorrow Fund and is available until March 31, 2023. Intake is ongoing while funds are available. Projects must be completed by March 31 in the year they are approved, so early application is recommended.

Program Contact:

Market Access Food Safety Program

Nova Scotia Seafood Accelerator Program

Seafood Accelerator Program: Technical Obstacles Program

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Technical Obstacles Program assists companies with seafood value-added products already in the marketplace, or those ready to go to market, with a technical issue that is keeping or prohibiting a product from entering a new market or limiting its current market success.

Comments on Funding:

Funding contribution available is based on scope and deliverables of the project.
Projects are cost-shared to a maximum of 50/50 with applicants.
Applicants must pay a percentage of their contribution for the project to begin, depending on total project costs.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

March 31, 2023

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

have a head office and licensed seafood processing facility in Nova Scotia,
demonstrate they are meeting the current federal and provincial inspection, regulation and licensing requirements,
have controls in place to ensure the product is handled properly during processing and results in a final product that is not tainted, decomposed, or unwholesome,
not be in contravention of provincial or federal laws related to the fishery,
have seafood value-added products already in the marketplace, or those ready to go to market, with a technical issue that is keeping or prohibiting a product from entering a new market or limiting its current market success.

Special consideration will be given to participants utilizing seafood waste or by-product in their product.

Application Steps:

submit the completed Technical Obstacle application online or by email at seafood@perennia.ca,

provide further information if required,

be able to provide a down payment before work begins.

Scheduling of the project may begin immediately upon application approval with a signed quote and project plan.

Other Things to Note:

Program Contact:

Technical Obstacles Program

Seafood Accelerator -Perennia

Seafood Accelerator Program: New Product Creator

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The New Product Creator is an initiative intended to support the development of new seafood value-added products through activities such as market validation, prototype development and scale-up support with the intent of having the product successfully reach the intended market.

Comments on Funding:

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

March 31, 2023

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

have a head office and licensed seafood processing facility in Nova Scotia,
demonstrate they are meeting the current federal and provincial inspection, regulation and licensing requirements,
have controls in place to ensure the product is handled properly during processing and results in a final product that is not tainted, decomposed, or unwholesome,
not be in contravention of provincial or federal laws related to the fishery,
be ready and willing to complete the commercialization cycle to take a product to market with the goal of this program to have a prototype created and the scale-up process determined,
work with consultants funded under this program to validate the market, positioning and brand for their product concept before product development begins. Once these factors have been explored, technical services provided by Perennia Food and Agriculture must be included in the path to move the new product to commercialization.

Special consideration will be given to participants utilizing seafood waste or by-product in their product.

Application Steps:

submit the completed New Product Creator application including a brief business and marketing plan online or by email at seafood@perennia.ca,

provide further information if required,

be able to provide a down payment before work begins.

Scheduling of the project may begin immediately upon application approval with a signed quote and project plan.

Documentation Needed:

The applicant must submit:

the application form,
a brief business and marketing plan.

Other Things to Note:

Program Contact:

New Product Creator

Nova Scotia Seafood Accelerator Program