Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program (FACTAP)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Federal contribution program funding commercial fisheries operators, aquaculture companies, and fish processors to adopt market-ready clean technologies, processes, and sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact. Established 2017; provided over $35 million to more than 200 projects through 2024. The program covers up to 75% of eligible project costs (max $1 million per year), with a minimum 10% applicant cash contribution.
Eligibility Requirements
- Commercial fisheries operators with valid fisheries, processing, and/or aquaculture licenses and permits
- Aquaculture operators and fish and seafood processors
- Commercial enterprises (companies and self-employed individuals with valid licenses)
- Indigenous organizations (groups, associations, or communities) in the fisheries or aquaculture sector
- Non-profit industry or professional associations in the sector
- Project must implement market-ready clean technologies at TRL 7–9 for aquaculture (commercially available technologies for both sectors)
- Projects designed solely for regulatory compliance are ineligible
- Applicant must not be in tax arrears or in default on existing government contracts
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to 75% of eligible project costs; maximum $1,000,000 per year
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Between intakes — application window currently closed; monitor dfo-mpo.gc.ca for next call for proposals
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win FACTAP — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 7 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for FACTAP? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipContact a DFO regional coordinator before submitting — the program explicitly requires prior consultation and coordinators can confirm eligibility and align your application with current priorities. Applications from operators who have already identified and piloted a clean technology solution (even at a small scale) rank higher because they demonstrate feasibility. Include clear measurement methodologies for energy savings, water use reduction, or GHG reductions — evaluators specifically look for quantifiable environmental metrics.
Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Applicant lacks valid fisheries, aquaculture, or processing licenses
- Project targets regulatory compliance only — not environmental improvement beyond compliance
- Technology is not market-ready (below TRL 7 for aquaculture projects)
Success Profile
A commercial fisheries operator, aquaculture facility, or fish processor with valid sector licenses that has identified a commercially available clean technology (energy efficiency, water treatment, waste reduction) with documented environmental outcomes and is seeking to adopt it at scale with a minimum 10% cash co-investment.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are evaluated on: environmental performance metrics and measurability (clear KPIs for energy, water, GHG, waste, bycatch reduction); quality of project work plan and risk management; leverage of non-FACTAP funding (higher co-funding ratio improves ranking); employment benefits (jobs maintained or created); GHG reduction potential; and organizational capacity and team qualifications. Provincial government support letters and quantified outcomes are strongly weighted.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 6
- Purchase and installation of clean technology equipment (e.g., energy-efficient gear, water treatment systems)
- Professional services for technology assessment and implementation planning
- Training costs for staff operating new clean technologies
- Pilot testing and validation costs for new sustainable practices
- Data collection and monitoring systems for environmental performance measurement
- Materials and supplies directly required for project implementation
Ineligible Expenses 7
- Technologies designed solely to meet existing regulatory requirements
- Debt repayment or refinancing
- General operating costs and overhead not directly tied to the project
- Land acquisition
- Projects that duplicate existing DFO-funded work
- Technologies below TRL 7 (not yet commercially available) for aquaculture applications
- Costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed
Intake Periods
Historically ongoing intake with evaluation every 3–6 months. Currently between intakes — monitor dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture and contact a DFO regional coordinator for next intake timing.
Deadline Notes
FACTAP operated on an ongoing intake basis; proposals were evaluated every 3–6 months based on available funding. The program provided $35M+ to 200+ projects from 2017–2024. No new intake has been confirmed as of May 2026 — monitor dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture for announcements and contact a DFO regional coordinator to be notified when the next intake opens.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Organizations without valid fisheries, processing, or aquaculture licenses and permits
- Organizations in tax arrears or in default on government contracts
- Academic institutions applying as the sole applicant
- Organizations proposing projects designed solely for regulatory compliance
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskMedium — DFO may require repayment if project deliverables are not completed, eligible expenses are not substantiated in financial reporting, or the funded equipment is not maintained and operated for the required post-project period. Incomplete or inadequate environmental outcome reporting can also trigger recovery.
How FACTAP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Techn... | Up to 75% of eligible project costs | Moderate | Reimbursement | Between intakes —... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Alberta Innovation Employment Grant | up to $4M | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about FACTAP