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Oceans and fisheries
News announcement5 August 2022Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027: The Commission adopts €115 million programme for Sweden

Sweden ©Elin Gunve

Following the adoption of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with Sweden, the Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme for Sweden, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal. The total financial allocation for the Swedish Programme 2021-2027 is €231.6 million over the next six years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €115.9 million. The Fund will promote the sustainable growth of Sweden’s aquaculture and fishing sector and stimulate innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

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

I am delighted to announce this new EMFAF Programme that will support sustainable investments in aquaculture and fisheries in Sweden, accelerating a green and digital transition of the sector. I am confident that the programme will safeguard the common fisheries policy and the marine environment, while supporting the industry’s resilience and profitability.

More concretely, the programme will support, among others: investments to comply with the landing obligation, reduce negative ecosystem impacts and ensure a healthy food supply; research and innovation to improve efficiency and sustainability across the entire value chain; fisheries control and data collection to implement the common fisheries policy (CFP); and the protection of biodiversity and marine protected areas.

EMFAF supports competitive and innovative fisheries and aquaculture

The programme is built upon several “ambitions”, adapted to the context of the Swedish sea basins and inland waters

  • sustainable development of Sweden’s fisheries sector in line with the Common Fisheries Policy by investing in projects that support the landing obligation, the use of selective and predator-safe fishing gear and that stimulate innovation and digitalisation.
  • Protect marine biodiversity and preserve marine protected areas
  • increase its aquaculture production by 71% by 2030, through the promotion of sustainable and organic aquaculture by supporting innovation and investments in start-ups and development of existing sites. Sweden is boosting the EMFAF share for aquaculture with €55.2 million of national co-financing, bringing total funding for aquaculture to €70.3 million (30.4% of the total programme budget).
  • improve the resilience and profitability of the sector and contribute to improving traceability and control of fish products and scientific data collection to enable knowledge-based decision making and fisheries management.

Main expected outcomes for 2021-2027

The objective of the Swedish EMFAF programme is to enhance the resilience of the sector and to increase the availability of a healthy food supply.

The programme will support sustainable investments on fishing vessels, in ports and in energy efficient production processes in aquaculture and fish processing. Also of importance will be the introduction of more selective fishing gear.

The Swedish EMFAF programme will also support diversification into processing, catering, tourism activities, etc., as well as the creation of new market opportunities to support the livelihood of the sector.

EMFAF also assists improved knowledge and skills development on fisheries and aquaculture sectors and boost innovation through partnerships between enterprises and between private and public actors.

The Swedish EMFAF programme will support the objectives of the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Swedish Prioritised Action Framework through numerous nature conservation and restoration actions, such as the establishment and maintenance of Marine Protected Areas, and collecting lost fishing gear and litter in both marine and inland waters.

21% of the total EMFAF allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries and environmental measures, 12% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and 6% in processing and marketing, all contributing to the EU’s environmental and climate objectives.

To ensure an effective implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, Sweden will dedicate 55% of its EMFAF budget to scientific data collection and fisheries control and enforcement.

Overall, the Swedish EMFAF programme will strengthen the resilience of the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors by helping stakeholders to improve productivity and profitability at the same time as fulfilling their environmental and climate responsibilities.

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 operational 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
5 August 2022 (Last updated on: 11 August 2022)
Author
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries