If you work in fishing, aquaculture, or seafood processing, you have likely seen funding programs that support “science” or “innovation” projects. The challenge is knowing which expenses are actually eligible before you start budgeting. Fisheries science and innovation grants in Canada tend to follow similar cost rules, especially under federal–provincial funds like the Quebec Fisheries Fund – Science Partnerships.
Below is a clear breakdown of what these programs usually pay for, with real examples from active fisheries grants.
Most fisheries science and innovation programs focus on applied research, testing, and collaboration. They are not general operating grants. Funding is tied directly to your approved project activities.
Labour is often the largest eligible expense, as long as it directly supports the science project.
Commonly covered costs include:
Under the Quebec Fisheries Fund – Science Partnerships, projects are expected to involve collaboration between industry and research organizations, making scientific labour a core eligible cost.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by province and project type in seconds.
Fisheries science projects often require specialized gear that you would not normally purchase for day-to-day operations.
Eligible equipment can include:
Programs typically require that equipment:
The Atlantic Fisheries Fund – Science Partnerships supports equipment that advances sustainable harvesting and aquaculture research, following similar cost rules.
Science and innovation grants are designed to generate new knowledge. As a result, data-related costs are commonly eligible.
These may include:
For fisheries projects, this often means costs tied to ecosystem monitoring or testing new technologies in real-world conditions.
You do not need to do everything in-house. Many programs allow you to bring in outside expertise.
Eligible services can include:
Partnerships are a core requirement of the Quebec Fisheries Fund – Science Partnerships, making third-party research services a normal and expected expense.
Travel is often eligible when it is necessary to carry out the science work.
Covered costs may include:
Travel must be:
General business travel or conferences without a direct project link are usually not eligible.
Many fisheries science grants expect results to be shared with industry or regulators.
Eligible expenses may include:
These costs support the broader goal of improving sustainability and innovation across the fisheries sector.
Even strong projects can be rejected if budgets include ineligible costs. Most fisheries science and innovation grants do not cover:
Always check program guidelines before finalizing your budget.
Including day-to-day operating costs
If an expense would exist without the project, it is often ineligible.
Under-documenting labour time
Programs expect clear time tracking for staff paid through the grant.
Buying equipment without justification
You must explain why each piece of equipment is essential to the science work.
Assuming all travel is covered
Only project-specific fieldwork travel is typically eligible.
Q: Are fisheries science grants repayable?
Most science partnership streams, including the Quebec Fisheries Fund – Science Partnerships, provide non-repayable contributions, meaning you do not pay the funding back if you meet the agreement terms.
Q: Can my business partner with a university or research centre?
Yes. Partnerships are strongly encouraged and often required for science-focused fisheries grants, especially under science partnership streams.
Q: Are wages for existing employees eligible?
They can be, as long as the employee is working directly on the approved project and their time is properly tracked.
Q: Is GST or QST an eligible expense?
This depends on whether your organization can recover the tax. Non-recoverable taxes are sometimes eligible, but this is assessed case by case.
Q: Can I start spending before my application is approved?
Usually no. Costs incurred before written approval are commonly ineligible.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada — check which ones match your business profile.
Understanding eligible expenses is the first step to building a strong fisheries science or innovation project. Once your budget categories are clear, the next challenge is finding programs that match your location, sector, and research focus. GrantHub helps you compare active fisheries grants across Canada and see which ones fit your project before you apply.
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