FAME videos

In 2016, to reduce waste from his company’s fish processing activities, Jean Marc Casteigt launched his salmon smoking family business located in Pau, France, into a European circular economy adventure. With support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, and inspired by another EU-funded project called FEMER, the company embarked on a journey to transform their salmon skin residue into sustainably tanned, high-grade upcycled leather.

Alga4food is a one-of-a-kind research project involving chemical engineers, marine biologists, chefs, gastronomers and even cheese producers. Together they joined forces to explore the possibilities of seaweed to innovate in the Portuguese diet. Thanks to EMFF support, the NOVA university of Lisbon has developed unique expertise in molecular characterization of seaweeds and their use in innovative as well as “ordinary” daily food products.

Capraia is a remote island in Tuscany that used to be dependent on fishing and seasonal tourism. Young people often had to migrate to mainland Italy to make a living. Since the late nineties, the Maricap aquaculture project has pursued a dream of small-scale, sustainable and virtuous aquaculture that would put Capraia on the path to resilience and autonomy. After 20 years and several drawbacks, the transformation is remarkable. Thanks to EMFF support and an unbeatable fighting spirit, new high-skilled and well-paid jobs were created in ecologically sound and sustainable marine aquaculture.

In November 2020 a new Danish governmental label for sustainably caught fish was launched by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. The project focuses primarily on the fishers and how they can benefit from the new nationally regulated label for sustainably caught fish. The label has the Danish title “NaturSkånsom” which translates roughly as “gentle to nature”. The organisation behind the project is the Danish producer organisation Foreningen for Skånsomt Kystfiskeri (FSK; Association of Low-Impact Small-Scale Coastal Fishers). Their main goal is to ensure the future of Denmark’s small-scale, low-impact coastal fishery and create better access to the market for sustainably caught fish.

The EU-funded project HOLOFARM explores how farming sea cucumbers can make a difference and become a diversification opportunity for European marine aquaculture. The project is led by Agrocampus Ouest Institute (Rennes, France) an international reference in research on the subject, and involves several French academic and professional partners as well as local stakeholders. In addition to the opportunity offered by the species for new markets for European aquaculture producers, this species is also key for the development of innovative and sustainable integrated multi-trophic aquaculture.

Martin Traxler took a life-changing decision. For the love of nature, he left his previous managerial job in Vienna to start a fish farm in the mountains of Styria, Austria. Learning aquaculture by self-study and through exchange of experiences with other fish farmers, Martin, with the support of his wife Elke, has built an enterprise that covers the entire value chain: from rearing to marketing and serving products at his restaurant on-site. EU-funding has helped turning his vision for a different life into a successful reality.”

An EMFF story episode presenting the challenges faced by the fisheries and aquaculture sector across Europe and the measures taken by EC and DG MARE to support stakeholders on the ground.

An EMFF story video introducing the “Fishing for litter” initiative which encourages fishermen to take ashore the litter they encounter at sea while fishing, and dispose marine litter in participating harbours across Ireland. Thanks to the EMFF, this programme is now implemented in 12 Irish harbours and involves over 100 boats.

An EMFF story presenting an integrated LIFE funded project in Spain. Led by the Fundacion Biodiversidad, LIFE INTEMARES is enabling the coordination of multiple policies and funding mechanisms (ESF, EMFF and national funding) to support the expansion, management and stakeholder inclusion in the Natura 2000 network.

Music: "Verve" by A-Group licensed under CC BY SA 3.0

MONTEREAL, an acronym standing for “MONitorização em TEmpo REAL”, is a science-fisheries partnership supported by the EMFF. It brings improvement in the monitoring of fishing effort for the small-scale fleet in Portugal through the development of data sharing equipment and automated analysis systems allowing researchers to track and document fishing operations of the small-scale fleet to improve their sustainability on environmental and economic dimensions.

An EMFF story presenting the restoration of an abandoned 18th century aquaculture farm in Tuscany, Italy. The farm was restored thanks to EMFF and is now producing both local and threatened species for ecosystem restoration, such as the Apenine trout (Salmo trutta fario), as well as the production of Rainbow trout for transformation and development of short chain food circuits.

Music: "Come back Home" by Low tree licensed under CC BY SA 3.0

An EMFF story video introducing the PERK digital declaration system developed by the Estonian fisheries administration with EMFF support. The video illustrates how digital tools can improve traceability and sustainability of fisheries in Estonia and beyond. The video features aninterview of Sander Laid, a young fisherman from Nasva, Estonia.

Music by Scandinavianz "Summertime" 

A video presenting the local seafood brand PescadeRías, a project supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund which promotes locally and sustainably sourced seafood in Galicia. The video features two interviews

In Varna, Bulgaria, the Milev family has been fully dedicated to fisheries for the past 25 years. Emil, captain of the Lavrak. Ltd company has seen his business evolve along the years, constantly investing to improve financial and environmental sustainability of his fishing activity; Dimitrina, his wife, manages the sales, while their two older daughters now help them with administrative and communication tasks. The EMFF has been there along the way to help them scale up and face crisis such as the COVID pandemic.

An EMFF story video presenting the voluntary protection measures taken by local fishermen in Eckernförde bay, Germany, with the support of the OstSeeinfo Center – An EMFF supported project which promotes the use of porpoise friendly fishing gear and avoidance of feeding areas for diving ducks, in the objective of reducing accidental captures.