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Oceans and fisheries
  • News announcement
  • 3 November 2022
  • Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
  • 4 min read

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027: The Commission adopts €61.2 million programme for Lithuania

European Union and Lithuania flags ©Denis Rozhnovsky/Adobe Stock.com

Following the adoption of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with Lithuania, the Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme for Lithuania, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal.

The total financial allocation for the Lithuanian Programme 2021-2027 is €87.4 million over the next six years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €61.2 million. The fund will support the overarching objectives of the green and digital transitions by promoting sustainable growth of Lithuania’s fishing and aquaculture sector and by stimulating modernisation and innovation.

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

I am delighted to announce the adoption of the EMFAF Programme for Lithuania, which will help to modernise the country’s fisheries and blue economy sectors in line with Europe’s green and digital transitions. I am confident that the programme will boost sustainable productivity of aquaculture and diversify business developments in coastal areas.

The new inflow of financing will support a wide array of measures that will underpin Lithuania’s efforts for sustainable development of its fisheries and aquaculture sectors until 2030. Targeted areas encompass sustainable aquaculture activities including better coordination between science and enterprise, contributions to conservation of marine biodiversity and the protection of fish stocks, and decarbonisation efforts through the replacement and modernisation of fishing boat engines.

EMFAF supports competitive and innovative fisheries and aquaculture

The programme is built upon several ambitions, adapted to the context of the Lithuanian sea basins and inland waters:

  • Support the sustainable growth of Lithuania’s fisheries sector by investing in projects that safeguard biodiversity, balancing fishing fleet capacity with fishing opportunities and contributing to the sound management of aquatic biological resources and seas.
  • Improve the overall resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors through investments in innovations, energy efficiency and improvements in working conditions by stimulating digitalisation and innovation along the entire value chain.
  • Increase the environmental efficiency of aquaculture, improving the conditions for biodiversity in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy. For example, support will be provided to ecosystem services to minimise the impact of aquaculture on natural water bodies. The objective is for nature-based measures to protect and improve the environment and biodiversity of at least 80% of all stocked ponds by 2030.
  • Improve the resilience and profitability of the sector’s market and promote the development of a sustainable blue economy in coastal communities with emphasis on circular economy to reduce pollution by 2030.

Main expected outcomes for 2021-2027

Overall, 67% of the total EMFAF allocation will be dedicated to environmental measures, contributing to the EU’s environmental and climate objectives. Clear transition goals are established for the sector with significant funding allocations to actions contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental protection and digitalisation.

About 38,5% of the total EMFAF allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries and the restoration and conservation of aquatic biological resources.

42,4% of the allocation will be invested in aquaculture, of which 35% in sustainable aquaculture and 7,4% will be invested in processing and marketing, all contributing to the EU’s environmental and climate objectives.

The programme sets a target for aquaculture enterprises to use at least 25% of renewable energy by 2030. The objective is for nature-based measures to protect and improve the environment and biodiversity of at least 80% of all stocked ponds by 2030. Organic aquaculture will be particularly supported with the aim to increase production by 39%.

To ensure an effective implementation of the common fisheries policy, Lithuania will dedicate around 18% of its EMFAF budget to scientific data collection and fisheries control and enforcement, in particular supporting digitalisation to improve traceability along the entire value chain.

The programme will help to improve marketing by offering a wider range of products and developing new sales channels, as well as enhancing the links between fishermen and aquaculture producers, processors and distributors.

Coastal communities will also benefit from the fund thanks to actions that aim to diversify income sources and develop a sustainable blue economy in Lithuania.

Overall, the Lithuanian 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. The fund also provides a safety net in times of crisis by mitigating the knock-on effects experienced by the sector, as seen from the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022 pie chart Lithuania EMFAF programme

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 national 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
3 November 2022
Author
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries