If your First Nation is building long-term capacity in commercial fisheries, the AICFI Harvester Training Program helps cover the cost of training your harvesters safely and effectively. This federal program, delivered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), funds in-class training and at‑sea mentoring under the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI). Applications follow a structured, community-led process, with a typical November 30 deadline.
The Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative – Harvester Training stream provides non‑repayable contribution funding to support skills development and capacity building for Indigenous commercial fish harvesters in Atlantic Canada and Gaspé, Quebec.
The program is designed to align training with your Community Fishing Enterprise (CFE) objectives and long-term training plan. Funding decisions are made by DFO, and approved projects proceed under a formal Contribution Agreement.
Who can apply
What the funding covers
Covered activities typically include harvester skills training, required certifications, and other capacity‑building costs that support safe, compliant commercial fishing operations.
Applying to the AICFI Harvester Training Program is a community-driven process. Individual harvesters do not apply on their own; applications are submitted by or on behalf of the First Nation.
Start by working with your Training Advisory Coordinator to develop a Harvester Training proposal that aligns with your community’s CFE training plan. This step ensures the training fits AICFI priorities and reflects your community’s long-term fisheries goals.
Your completed submission must include:
Incomplete packages are a common cause of delays. Make sure all documents are included before submission.
Send the full application package to the AICFI Program Authority at DFO. During review, DFO may follow up with your community or Training Advisory Coordinator to request clarifications or additional details.
Program contact:
[email protected]
If your project is approved, DFO will finalize a Contribution Agreement with the recipient. Do not incur costs before this agreement is signed. Any expenses incurred beforehand are at the applicant’s risk and may not be reimbursed.
Intake timelines can change from year to year. Confirm deadlines early in the year to avoid missing out. If you need help finding Indigenous and fisheries-related training programs, tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher let you filter by region and funding type quickly.
Starting training before approval
Costs incurred before the Contribution Agreement is signed are not guaranteed to be reimbursed.
Missing Chief or BCR support
A support letter or Band Council Resolution is mandatory. Without it, the application is incomplete.
Training not aligned with the CFE plan
Proposals must clearly connect to your community’s CFE training objectives.
Underestimating the community contribution
At-sea mentoring requires a 25% contribution. This must be planned and documented.
Q: Can individual harvesters apply directly to the AICFI Harvester Training Program?
No. Applications are submitted by or through eligible First Nations as part of their Community Fishing Enterprise.
Q: Is AICFI Harvester Training funding repayable?
No. The program provides non-repayable contribution funding, provided all agreement terms are met.
Q: What types of training expenses are eligible?
Eligible expenses include harvester skills training, required certifications, and approved at-sea mentoring activities tied to the training plan.
Q: Can this funding be combined with other Indigenous training grants?
Often yes, but total government assistance limits apply. DFO will review stacking as part of the application.
Q: How much funding can a community receive?
Funding amounts vary by project scope and community needs, within the in-class and at-sea funding limits.
If your community is planning fisheries training, confirming eligibility and deadlines early makes a real difference. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada, including Indigenous and sector-specific training funds—so you can quickly see which options match your community’s goals before you apply. You can also use GrantHub to compare funding rules and deadlines for similar training grants in your province.
For more support, review other grant programs for Indigenous workforce development and reach out to your Training Advisory Coordinator or DFO contacts.
Was this article helpful?
Rate it so we can improve our content.
Canada Proactive Disclosure Data
The Canadian government has funded over 400,000 businesses through 1.27 million grants and contributions. Check your eligibility in 60 seconds.