Lost and abandoned fishing gear—often called “ghost gear”—is one of the biggest sources of marine pollution in Canada. To address this, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) runs the Ghost Gear Fund, a federal, non-repayable grant that supports projects to retrieve, recycle, and prevent ghost gear in Canadian waters. If you’re planning a fisheries or marine cleanup project, understanding the eligibility rules upfront can save you weeks of work.
This guide explains Ghost Gear Fund fisheries project eligibility requirements, who can apply, and what DFO looks for when assessing proposals.
The Ghost Gear Fund is a federal funding program under Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Its goal is to reduce environmental harm caused by abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear in oceans, coastal areas, and inland waters.
Eligible projects typically fall into three categories:
Funding is non-repayable, meaning approved recipients do not need to pay it back as long as project terms are met.
The Ghost Gear Fund is not limited to private businesses. DFO targets organizations that can deliver measurable environmental outcomes.
Commonly eligible applicants include:
For-profit businesses may be eligible only when partnering with an eligible lead applicant, such as a non-profit or fisheries association.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by applicant type, province, and fisheries focus in seconds.
To meet Ghost Gear Fund fisheries project eligibility requirements, your project must clearly align with DFO’s program objectives.
Your project must directly address ghost gear, including:
Projects that are primarily commercial, marketing-focused, or unrelated to fishing gear pollution are not eligible.
Eligible projects must take place in:
International projects are generally not eligible unless they directly support Canadian fisheries outcomes.
DFO expects clear, measurable results, such as:
Vague environmental benefits without data or tracking plans are a common reason for rejection.
Applicants must show they can manage the project, including:
Projects must be achievable within the funding period set by the specific intake.
The Ghost Gear Fund does not publish a single fixed funding amount. Funding levels vary by intake, project size, and scope. DFO assesses budgets based on whether costs are reasonable and directly tied to project activities.
Eligible expenses often include:
Capital purchases and unrelated overhead may be limited or ineligible, depending on the intake guidelines.
Proposing a project that is too broad
DFO funds targeted ghost gear initiatives, not general ocean cleanup campaigns.
Missing the environmental metrics
Projects without clear measurement plans often fail technical review.
Assuming businesses can apply alone
Many for-profit applicants are rejected because they lack an eligible lead partner.
Ignoring intake-specific rules
Each call for proposals may adjust priorities, deadlines, or eligible costs.
Q: Is the Ghost Gear Fund currently open?
Intake periods vary by year and funding stream. Always check the current call for proposals on the DFO website before preparing an application.
Q: Is Ghost Gear Fund funding repayable?
No. The Ghost Gear Fund provides non-repayable federal grant funding.
Q: Can Indigenous communities apply directly?
Yes. Indigenous organizations and Indigenous-led groups are explicitly eligible and encouraged to apply.
Q: Are Ghost Gear Fund grants taxable in Canada?
Grant taxation depends on your organization type and how funds are used. Speak with an accountant familiar with government funding.
Q: Can the Ghost Gear Fund be combined with other grants?
In some cases, yes. Stacking with other federal or provincial environmental programs may be allowed if total funding does not exceed project costs.
After reviewing eligibility, it helps to compare options. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada—including marine and fisheries funding—so you can see which ones match your project profile.
If your fisheries project aligns with Ghost Gear Fund fisheries project eligibility requirements, the next step is confirming which intake and funding stream best fits your timeline. GrantHub helps you identify active fisheries and marine conservation grants, compare eligibility rules, and plan applications with confidence—so you focus on protecting Canada’s waters, not chasing the wrong programs.
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