Portugal and Slovenia will receive millions in funding from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027.
Portugal will receive €392.6 million, while Slovenia will receive €24 million, in order to to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal.
”The programme will help modernise the country’s fisheries and blue economy sectors in line with Europe’s green and digital transitions and will promote sustainable aquaculture and processing activities,” said Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
Supported activities
In Portugal, 37.2% of the programme’s allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries and the compensation of additional costs in the outermost regions, 35.8% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing, 8.6% will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and internal regions, 12.4% will be invested in the outermost regions and 1.3% will be invested in the strengthening of international ocean governance.
The programme will support, among other things sustainable fisheries with investments in fishing vessels to improve safety, energy efficiency and decarbonisation of fishing vessels; measures to improve fisheries infrastructure in particular in ports; start-up support for young fishers and fisheries control and data collection.
It will also support investments in sustainable aquaculture projects and for the diversification of farmed aquaculture species including supporting innovation, plus decarbonisation in aquaculture and the processing of fisheries and aquaculture products.
In Slovenia, 25.6% of the programme’s allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries, 32.3% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture, processing and marketing, 38% will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy and 4.1% will be invested in strengthening of international ocean governance.
The programme will support diverse range of activities, including creating more sustainable fisheries with a temporary cessation of fishing activities to protect marine resources and contributing to fair standard of living for fishers; investments in improving fishing ports infrastructure to facilitate the implementation of the landing obligation and investments to support decarbonisation of the fishing industry.
With regards to sustainable aquaculture, it will support investments in increasing sustainability, resilience, circular economy and adaptation to climate change, plus energy efficiency and decarbonisation in aquaculture and processing.
The EMFAF runs from 2021 to 2027 and helps achieve sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biological resources.
