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Oceans and fisheries
News announcement6 December 2022Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Denmark will receive €201 million from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027

New control vessel used in the fisheries control © Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri
New control vessel used in the fisheries control
© Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri

Following the adoption of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with Denmark, the Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme for the Denmark, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal. The total financial allocation for the Danish programme 2021-2027 is €287 million, of which the EU contribution accounts for almost €201 million.

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said:

I am delighted to announce the adoption of the EMFAF programme for Denmark. The programme has a strong focus on innovation with the aim to achieve green transition, support sustainable and energy efficient fisheries and aquaculture, as well as to enhance marine biodiversity in Denmark.

Supported activities

Denmark aims at maximising the impact of the programme and has chosen to dedicate 86% of the programme allocation to sustainable fisheries and the conservation of aquatic biological resources. The remaining 8% of the programme allocation will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing.

The programme will support, among other things:

  • Sustainable fisheries: energy efficiency of fishing vessels through research and innovation and investments; investments to comply with the landing obligation; promotion and marketing; support to improve data collection and control and enforcement; funding for river restoration.
  • Sustainable aquaculture: innovation, research, and investments in sustainable aquaculture to reduce negative ecosystem impacts and enhance energy efficiency; promotion and marketing.
EMFAF programme pie chart for Denmark

Main expected outcomes until 2027

The Danish EMFAF programme will contribute to the EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies.

The programme aims to enhance the resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, especially coastal fisheries, through a focus on innovation, investments and promotion measures, all to the benefit of the sector as a whole. It also provides for the possibility to use crisis support for businesses in case of a severe market disruption.

The programme will support the green transition of the sector with innovation and investments aimed at improving gear selectivity and energy efficiency and at reducing negative ecosystem impacts. Denmark has an ambitious aim to become a leader in the green transition, in which the Danish fisheries and aquaculture have an important role to play to contribute to the development and application of green technologies in support of the Danish national climate target of a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Based on the budget allocations, the programme contributions to fight climate change and protect the environment represent respectively 77% and 90% of the total EU allocation, which is well above the 30% target for climate contribution set in the EMFAF Regulation. The contribution of the programme to biodiversity amounts to 56%.

The digital transition of the Danish fisheries and aquaculture is a key area of the programme: it includes the digitalisation of processes and interaction within the areas of control and enforcement, as well as fisheries data collection.

The programme will also support knowledge building in support of improved management of marine protected areas as well as actions to collect marine litter. The programme will reinforce the environmental actions undertaken under the Danish prioritised action framework for Natura 2000, in particular river restoration projects to ensure good status in line with the EU’s Water Framework Directive.

Background

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

Article 8 of the EMFAF Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 requires Member States to produce a national implementation programme for the EMFAF. This programme focuses on EU priorities, laying down the strategy and investment priorities, including the indicative annual financial allocation for each priority. The programme is subject to approval by the European Commission.

More information

EMFAF programmes 2021 – 2027

Common fisheries policy (CFP)

Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy

Aquaculture guidelines

@VSinkevicius

@EU_MARE

Details

Publication date
6 December 2022
Author
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries