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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 €71 million programme for Finland

EU and Finland flags. ©Denis Rozhnovsky/Adobe Stock

Following the adoption of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with Finland, the Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme for Finland, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal. The total financial allocation for the Finnish programme 2021-2027 is €140.3 million over the next six years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €71.8 million. The fund will promote sustainable growth of Finland’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 this new EMFAF programme that will support innovative projects in Finland, accelerating a green and digital transition of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Finland is a strong promoter of sustainability and modernisation. I am confident that the programme will safeguard the marine environment  and conditions for maintaining fish stocks, while supporting the industry’s profitability.

More concretely, the programme will support, among others: the availability of domestic fish and the development of small-scale fishing activities; research and innovation to improve efficiency and digitalisation across the entire value chain; and the protection of biodiversity and the state of fish stocks.

EMFAF supports competitive and innovative fisheries and aquaculture

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

  • support the sustainable growth of Finland’s fisheries sector by investing in projects that safeguard the conditions for primary production conditions and that stimulate innovation and digitalisation
  • protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable practices to ensure the  sustainable use of fish stocks and robust environmental standards
  • double Finnish aquaculture production by 2030, in line with the EU aquaculture 2021-2030 strategic guidelines through the development of licensing, location management, circular economy solutions, new technologies and emission-based permits.
  • improve the resilience and profitability of the aquaculture and processing sector and contribute to improving traceability and control of fish products.

Main expected outcomes for 2021-2027

The programme aims to increase Finnish fish consumption to two doses per person per week by 2030. The programme also plans to stimulate modernisation and innovation and to reinforce environmental protection.

EMFAF also strives to improve collective knowledge on fisheries and boost innovation through partnerships between enterprises and between private and public actors.

The programme envisages research and development projects to contribute to the protection of biodiversity and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. These projects will support the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Finnish Prioritised Action Framework objectives.

33% of the total EMFAF allocation will be dedicated to environmental measures and investments and 20% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture, contributing to the EU’s environmental and climate objectives. Endangered fish species will be protected by improving the selectivity of fishing and marine life will be better protected by the removal of lost fishing gear and marine litter generally.

Coastal fishing communities will benefit from the fund thanks to actions facilitating access to local fishing permits for private waters and promoting the recruitment of new fishermen.

Overall, the Finnish 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.

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
Author
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries