MARINE Fund Cymru has secured a £500,000 commitment from The Crown Estate, the first investment in an ambitious new funding scheme for coastal and marine ecosystem projects.
Now officially open for contributions, our MARINE Fund Cymru scheme is providing a new route for long-term investment in the restoration and resilience of Wales’ marine and coastal environment.
The fund was launched at the Coastal Futures conference in London last week by Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs for Wales. The Deputy First Minster announced that MARINE Fund Cymru, which is managed by WCVA, was open for business after receiving its first contribution, £500,000 in seed funding from The Crown Estate.
This marks a key milestone in turning the ambitions of the fund into practical action. Funding will be distributed through grants to marine and coastal ecosystem recovery projects across Wales.
ABOUT THE FUND
MARINE Fund Cymru is managed by WCVA. Working closely with the Wales Coast and Seas Partnership (CaSP Cymru), we have established governance and safeguards and will continue leading the ongoing design and development of the fund as a robust national scheme that unlocks new investment for Wales.
CaSP Cymru brings together public bodies, marine sectors and environmental organisations to support the Welsh Government’s vision for clean, healthy, productive and biologically diverse seas. MARINE Fund Cymru builds on this partnership approach to turn shared priorities into sustainable coordinated action.
We expect to open the first grant round for applications later this year. Join our mailing list to keep up to date.
SUPPORT FROM THE CROWN ESTATE
The £500,000 in seed funding is part of The Crown Estate’s commitment to nature recovery, recognising the funding gap and the need to unlock sustainable investment in nature. The funding will help leverage further long-term investment into Wales’ marine and coastal environment, enabling projects that truly enhance the resilience of local ecosystems in Wales.
MARINE Fund Cymru is designed to attract contributions from a range of sources. We’re encouraging investors with shared ambitions to contact WCVA to discuss the fund’s continued development.
‘WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE IMPACT’
WCVA’s Chief Executive, Lindsay Cordery-Bruce said:
‘A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to get MARINE Fund Cymru to this point. This is a prime example of how thinking differently can bring new funding into Wales to deliver meaningful outcomes for people and nature. We’re really excited to see the impact this will make for years to come, and we’re looking forward to building from here and having conversations with any potential partners that share our vision and goals.’
MARINE Fund Cymru is now open for contributions. Get in touch for further information on how to contribute.