€212 MILLION PROGRAMME FOR GERMANY

€212 million programme for Germany. European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027: the Commission adopts €212 million programme for Germany.

Following the adoption of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with Germany, the Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme for Germany, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal The total financial allocation for the German programme 2021-2027 is €302.6 million, of which the EU contribution accounts for €211.8 million.

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

“I am pleased to announce this new EMFAF Programme that will support a resilient, sustainable and low-carbon fisheries and aquaculture sector in Germany. It will be a key tool as well to boost the digital transition of the sector and reinforce the economic and social vitality of coastal and inland communities in Germany. The German EMFAF programme will support the protection and restoration of biological diversity of marine and inland ecosystems. I also welcome the German initiative to set up a ‘Concept Commission on the Future of German Baltic Sea Fisheries’, whose recommendations will be implemented as Operation of Strategic Importance under the German EMFAF programme and which will provide key support to the resilience building of the German Baltic Sea fisheries.”

Supported activities

49% of the programme’s allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries, 33% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing, 10% will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy in coastal and inland regions and 2% will be invested in the strengthening of international ocean governance, all contributing to the EU’s environmental and climate objectives. The EMFAF will support also innovation with a focus on energy efficiency and CO₂ reduction, consisting of knowledge sharing and transfer between research organisation and the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

The programme will support, among other things:

• Sustainable fisheries: investments in innovation and fishing vessels contributing to green transition, improving health, safety and working condition on board, human capital and generational renewal; innovation and diversification of fishing activities; protection and restoration of natural resources, including more selective fishing gear; energy efficiency and decarbonisation of fishing activities; fisheries control and data collection.
• Sustainable aquaculture: investments improving economic, environmental and social sustainability of aquaculture; strengthening the resilience of aquaculture to climate change, diversification of farmed aquaculture species; natural resource and energy efficiency, decarbonisation in aquaculture and the processing of fish products, support for producer organisations.
• Sustainable blue economy: development of coastal and inland areas through Local Action Groups (LAG).
• International ocean governance: development of marine knowledge and marine eco-system studies and projects, maritime spatial planning and maritime surveillance.

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