The European Parliament has adopted the 2021-2027 fisheries and aquaculture fund to support the blue economy, protect biodiversity and promote international ocean governance.
The new €6.1 billion European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) encourages member states to invest in making the industry more competitive and helping develop a sustainable blue economy, new markets and technologies. At least 15% of national allocations will have to be spent on fisheries control and data collection, and to counter illegal and unregulated fishing.
Rapporteur Gabriel Mato (EPP, ES) said that the fund had been negotiated at a challenging time, citing the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit as particularly challenging. “In addition, the young generation is reluctant to enter the profession, CO2 emissions must be reduced and aquaculture production is stagnating,” he said.
The fund aims to address the needs of small-scale coastal fishers, helping the sector to develop, as well as the constraints experienced by those fishing in remote regions. To help bring younger people into fishing communities the new EMFAF can finance the first vessel or partial ownership for fishermen younger than 40 who have at least five years’ experience or have acquired an equivalent qualification.
The fund will also compensate those who have had to suspend fishing to comply with conservation measures and those who have had to scrap a vessel if their activities have ceased permanently. There will also be support available to finance equipment needed to comply with landing obligations and EU fishing control rules.
The regulation will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and will apply retroactively as from 1 January 2021.
