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Oceans and fisheries
News announcement29 June 2022Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027: Commission adopts €567.1 million programme for France

Guilvinec harbour

Following the adoption of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with France, the Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme for France, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. The EU contribution for the French Programme Fisheries 2021-2027 accounts for €567.1 million, and with national funding its total financial allocation reaches €793.3 million for the new programming period. The Fund will support the fishing and aquaculture sectors in France by facilitating the green and digital transition, adapting the product offer in line with the expectations of consumers, sustain small-scale coastal fishing, improving resilience, and boost innovation.

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

The Commission has stood by the French fishermen in difficult times. I am happy to announce the new EMFAF programme, which will support a resilient and green transition of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in France, the protection of the marine environment and biodiversity. France has a key role to play in the sustainable management of our oceans as well as the development of a sustainable blue economy, so the funding will also contribute to those areas in both mainland and the six French Outermost Regions.

More concretely, the programme will support, among others: restructuring and modernisation of the fishing fleet; the implementation of the landing obligation; improved selectivity of fishing gears; and improved knowledge and management of Marine Protected Areas. It will reinforce resilience of the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors by helping them face climate change effects and by mitigating the impact of recent crises.

EMFAF supports competitive and innovative fisheries and aquaculture

The programme is built upon three “ambitions”, adapted to the diversity of situations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean sea basins as well as in the outermost regions:

  • Support the fisheries and aquaculture sectors towards better environmental, economic and social performance;
  • Establish sustainable conditions for the harmonious deployment of maritime and coastal activities;
  • Effective implementation of the EMFAF programme through the renewal of the partnership between the State and the regions

Main expected outcomes for 2021-2027

The programme will contribute to improve knowledge on the state of the fishery resource and fishing activity including in outermost regions: EMFAF support will notably go to IFREMER, which will be in charge of carrying out observations on fishing effort overseas.

In the framework of the Biodiversity strategy for 2030, the EMFAF will be used for actions aimed at improving the knowledge and management of Marine Protected Areas. Addressing the objectives of the “farm to fork” strategy and in line with the new guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture, the programme supports the implementation of the national multiannual aquaculture plan.

Positive impacts on coastal communities are expected through the implementation of local development strategies focusing on the greening of fishing ports.

Specific actions are foreseen to support investments in circular economy and decarbonisation. There is a focus on innovation as a cross-sector priority also in the framework of the digital transition, with about 6% of the programme budget devoted to innovative projects.

In general, the programme will reinforce resilience of the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors by helping companies facing climate change and health events as well as mitigating the impact of crises, like the pandemic, and the post-Brexit fall-out. Support is foreseen to increase the ability of companies to invest, recruit and train. Attention is also provided to address the goal of upgrading health and hygiene conditions in fisheries and aquaculture and to guarantee safe working conditions.

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

FR programme (EMFAF) - summary

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
29 June 2022
Author
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries