Transition Assistance Fund

Previous grant recipients

Since 2020, we have awarded 39 grants and nearly £1.9 million in funding via the Ocean Stewardship Fund to fisheries in improvement projects in Indonesia, India, Mexico, South Africa, Peru, Nicaragua, New Zealand, and Australia. 
 
In 2026, £383,000 was awarded across eight fishery improvement projects.

2026 projects

• Conservation Mahi Mahi and Fundación Escuela De Pesca Del Pacífico Oriental (EPESPO)):In Ecuador and Peru, co-funding for the installation of electronic monitoring systems on vessels in a mahi-mahi longline fishery, alongside satellite connectivity to enable real time data transmission.
• Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (ICM-CSIC): In Spain the Palamós blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) trawl fishery funding is supporting the development of robust management strategies, completing stock assessments for key species, and collecting data on ecosystem impacts. 
• Vietnam Tuna Association: In Vietnam, piloting an integrated observer and electronic monitoring system in a tuna purse seine fishery to generate the first verifiable data on catch and species interactions for the fleet, supporting improved management, greater transparency, and more alignment with international best practice.
• Pronatura Noroeste A.C: In Mexico, the North Pacific barred sand bass support will strengthen management systems, close certification gaps, and support traceability. 
• SeaFish/TBD: In the UK, co-funding to support the adoption and roll out of new gear that is proven to reduce by-catch in Nephrops using incentive models and demonstrate supply chain financing approaches.  
• Camara Peruana del Calamar Gigante (CAPECAL): In Peru, the Jumbo Flying Squid fishery is strengthening monitoring, vessel tracking, governance mechanisms, and transparency. 
• Conservación Sostenible de los Recursos Marinos y Acuáticos (COSOREMA): In Mexico, the  Pacific artisanal shrimp fishery is working to strengthen stock assessments, monitoring, collaboration, and transparency.
• KOLEKTIF: In Indonesia, fisheries face gaps in governance and harvest strategy systems across provinces. . a collaboration of 3 prawn fisheries will develop the scientific data and stakeholder engagement needed to develop comprehensive harvest control strategy and strengthen governance frameworks aligned with MSC benchmarks.