Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF)

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Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund

The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) is a designed to help bridge the nature finance gap. We accept voluntary contributions from those interested in the health of Scottish waters and strategically redistribute through grants to marine enhancement projects across Scotland.

The unique placement of SMEEF, which is managed by a Steering Group of the Scottish Governments Marine Directorate, Crown Estate Scotland and NatureScot, provides exceptional insight and assures robust governance and transparency.

SMEEF plays a key role in delivering important policy areas including the Blue Economy Vision for Scotland and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

SMEEF funds projects that recover, restore or enhance the health of marine and coastal habitats and species from Shetland to the Borders. On World Seagrass Day 2024 we announced our largest and most exciting partnership to date. Working with SSEN Distribution we will invest £2.1m in Scottish seagrass meadows (read the full story HERE).

Read our first Impact Report HERE. Scroll down for a live map of projects funded to date.

SMEEF provides a transparent, robust and effective way for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to healthier seas by reinvesting in these ecosystems.

SMEEF funded projects will safeguard and enhance our marine resource.

SMEEF will help to build a stronger wellbeing economy for Scotland’s coastal communities.

SMEEF will fund research to unlock the best routes to restoration successes.

Core aims

SMEEF aims to be an effective long-running, funding mechanism that will:

Help meet the challenges of the climate and biodiversity emergencies,
Provide corporate social responsibility opportunities, and
Encourage research and development.

A group of people on a cliff top looking out to sea

Drone shot of a boat full of people in shallow water

The Fund supports a just transition to net zero through grant-aided projects that enhance the marine ecosystem services we all rely upon, including:

Recovery, Restoration and Enhancement of marine and coastal habitat and species,
Marine and coastal nature-based solutions to climate related impacts,
Invasive species management,
Research which sheds new light on relevant issues and/or makes projects more effective.

Learn more

Long term goals

Solutions Focused Partnerships

Enabling industry to play their part

Increased Funding for Marine Enhancement

Through private investment

Positive Change at Scale

Overcoming barriers and supporting impactful projects

Effective, Informed, Strategic Investment

Science led grant programmes

See our contributors

Marine Restoration Across Scotland

Many communities, business and individuals are involved in marine restoration across Scotland. Almost ALL the projects on this map received funding through SMEEF since it was established. Donations have come from a range of donors, including the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund as well as private companies. Click on the pins for a short description and be inspired by the range of exciting projects which are happening around our coastline and in our seas. As more SMEEF funded projects get underway, they will be added to this map.

Find out more Read our Impact Report