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Oceans and fisheries

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)

The EMFAF entered into force on 14 July 2021.  

EMFAF programmes 2021 - 2027

The EMFAF runs from 2021 to 2027 and supports the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance.

It provides support for developing innovative projects ensuring that aquatic and maritime resources are used sustainably.

As a global ocean actor and a major producer of seafood, the EU has a responsibility to protect and sustainably use the oceans and their resources. It is also in the EU's socio-economic interest to guarantee the availability of food supplies, the competitiveness of the maritime economy and the livelihood of coastal communities.

The fund helps achieve sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biological resources. This leads to

  • food security through the supply of seafood products
  • growth of a sustainable blue economy
  • healthy, safe and sustainably managed seas and oceans

It also helps achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 (‘conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’), to which the EU is committed.

Furthermore, the EMFAF helps fulfil the objectives of the European Green Deal, the roadmap for the EU climate and environmental policies.

EMFAF support

The EMFAF supports innovative projects that contribute to the sustainable exploitation and management of aquatic and maritime resources.

In particular, it facilitates

  • the transition to sustainable and low-carbon fishing
  • the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystems
  • the supply of quality and healthy seafood to European consumers
  • the socio-economic attractiveness and the generational renewal of the fishing sector, in particular as regards small-scale coastal fisheries
  • the development of a sustainable and competitive aquaculture contributing to food security
  • the improvement of skills and working conditions in the fishing and aquaculture sectors
  • the economic and social vitality of coastal communities
  • innovation in the sustainable blue economy
  • maritime security towards a safe maritime space
  • international cooperation towards healthy, safe and sustainably managed oceans

Budget

The total budget for 2021-2027 is €6.108 billion.

Programme management

The programme management is divided between shared management and direct management. 

  • shared management –  €5.311 billion is provided through national programmes co-financed by the EU budget and EU countries, for which the Common Provision Regulation 2021-2027 is applicable
  • direct management – €797 million is provided directly by the Commission

Under shared management, each country receives the same percentage of the fund’s budget as during the previous period, 2014-2020.

How to apply

To see if your project is eligible for EMFAF support, first check with the national authority in charge of managing the operational programme in your country. Then follow the relevant application procedures so that the managing authority can check the eligibility of your project and whether it meets the relevant selection criteria and investment priorities.

List of EMFAF national authorities

Documents

Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/45 of 13 January 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund on cases of non-compliance and cases of serious non-compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy that may lead to an interruption of a payment deadline or suspension of payments under that fund

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/44 of 13 January 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the criteria for establishing the level of financial corrections and for applying flat-rates linked to serious non-compliance with Common Fisheries Policy rules

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/79 of 19 January 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the recording, transmission and presentation of operation-level implementation data

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/46 of 13 January 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 as regards the identification of energy-efficient technologies and the specification of methodology elements to determine the normal fishing effort of fishing vessels

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 by laying down the criteria for the calculation of the additional costs incurred by operators in the fishing, farming, processing and marketing of certain fishery and aquaculture products from the outermost regions

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2181 of 29 June 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund as regards the starting dates and time periods for the inadmissibility of applications for support

  • 6 JULY 2021
Frequently asked questions | The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)