
This Fund from FISH Platform, Lloyd’s Register Foundation and The Seafarers’ Charity is supporting practical improvements in fishing safety to save lives. Designed by fishers for fishers.
Despite safety improvements in parts of the world, fishing continues to be a dangerous occupation globally. A conservative estimate by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation puts the number of fishing fatalities at 32,000 annually.
The International Fund for Fishing Safety is a unique initiative funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation to support international fishers to improve safety and health in their industry. As a charity with an interest in maritime safety, Lloyd’s Register Foundation supports the work being done to shine a light on this global safety issue and has made a large sum available to support fishermen’s safety.
The fund is managed by The Seafarers’ Charity and the FISH Platform provides its expertise to assess project applications for feasibility, effectiveness in fisheries safety.
Supporting the international fishing industry to improve safety and save lives
This is a new fund launched in 2024 for projects aimed at making an impact to improve international fishing safety and health.
What is the fund for?
Applications are invited from anywhere in the world and should be able to demonstrate a direct link between the people who are working in fishing and planned safety improvements. Projects can be locally focused in one country or aimed at an international outcome.
Find Out More
If you would like to find out if your initiative is suitable for an application to this fund then please get in touch. Talk to our fund coordinator Alan McCulla (alan.mcculla@fishplatform.org) for more advice and see our news stories for examples of the type of projects coming up.
Eligibility Criteria
If you are an organisation looking for funding to improve fishing safety and health, you can apply for funding.
Successful projects will meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- Be for fishers: The project must involve and benefit wild capture commercial fishers.
- Focus on safety and health: For fishers and the vessels they work on.
- Not for profit: The project must operate on a not-for-profit or charitable basis.
- Follow global standards: Match the International standards in fishing of STCW-F or ILO C188 or the Cape Town Agreement.
- Long-term impact: Show lasting benefits and the potential to be applied in other fisheries/ countries.
- Share knowledge: Share lessons learned with fishers worldwide.
See here for full details on applying for grant funding.
You will be directed to the IFFS page on the website of The Seafarers’ Charity which manages the fund.
Projects that were already awarded with a grant:

Funding development of a Safety Management System for fishing vessels and the ISM level qualification for fishing vessel auditors in South Africa and Namibia with Sea Safety Training Group.
Training & equipment programme in Ghana for small fishing vessels with Friends Of The Nation and ProSea Marine Education.


In Vietnam, home to 600,000 fishers, funding will help the Vietnam Tuna
Association improve vessel safety through upgraded equipment and
training.
Training in Fiji for those who work in fishing with Sustainable Fisheries & Communities Trust and Human Dignity Group.


In Thailand funding for training fishers in lifesaving skills with an initiative from Stella Maris.
In Kenya the funding is training fishers in lifesaving skills and testing a lifejacket rental service with Stella Maris.
