Diversification of fisheries activities in the Atlantic area

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)

Programme Description

The EMFAF supports the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. It provides support for developing innovative projects ensuring that aquatic and maritime resources are used sustainably.

The fund helps achieve sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biological resources. This leads to:

  • food security through the supply of seafood products
  • growth of a sustainable blue economy
  • healthy, safe and sustainably managed seas and oceans
Programme Details

Identifier Code

EMFAF-2023-PIA-FLAGSHIP-1-ATLANTIC

Call

Diversification of fisheries activities in the Atlantic area

Summary

The main objective of this topic is to support the diversification of the income sources for fisheries communities in the Atlantic area by promoting activities related to the sustainable blue economy.

Detailed Call Description

This topic will focus on:

  • Integration of tourism products and services provided by fishers and fisheries associations into the local/regional/sea basin tourist offers;
  • Support fishers and other interested stakeholders, to assess the interest and feasibility to set up new regenerative ocean farms or restore coastal marine ecosystems, including by testing these approaches;
  • Promotion of job creation in the field of sustainable blue economy.

Selected projects should carry out to the maximum extent possible the indicative (not exhaustive) activities listed below:

  • Awareness raising and increasing social acceptance by showcasing results of existing projects related to fisheries diversification and benefits derived from them;
  • Engaging local stakeholders and communities;
  • Coaching, advisory services, mentoring, training for fishers in areas as for example pesca-tourism, eco-tourism, cultural heritage, shellfish and/or regenerative ocean farming, etc.;
  • Promoting entrepreneurial activities amongst local fishers, offering the fishers initial training on maritime-coastal cultural and natural heritage or regenerative ocean farming;
  • Providing training programmes on sustainability (green skills), digital skills, entrepreneurial and soft (customer service, languages) skills, communication and awareness-raising, tutoring services for new businesses, and the development of series of good practices guides and protocols;
  • Matchmaking activities or other forms of support for cooperation among related blue economy SMEs/start-ups and other stakeholders;
  • Developing and promoting marketing of coastal-maritime tourism routes including fisheries/aquaculture tourism products/services or demonstrating and test-base innovative methods for regenerative ocean farming, of either local seaweed species or seaweed in combination with shellfish;
  • Creating local and regional networks to foster interaction between fisheries communities and economic operators in close cooperation with the local and regional government authorities.

Applicants shall explain in the proposal the added-value of their projects compared to similar actions implemented under national EMFAF Operational Programmes (shared management).

 

Call Total Budget

€2,000,000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

80%

Thematic Categories

  • Fisheries/ Aquaculture and Maritime Policy
  • New Entrepreneurship

Eligibility for Participation

  • Central Government
  • Fishermen, Aquaculturists, Owners of Vessels
  • International Organisations
  • Private Bodies
  • Semi-governmental organisations
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises
  • Training Centres

Eligibility For Participation Notes

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
    • non-EU countries that are part of the sea basin strategies and/or regional cooperation frameworks

Call Opening Date

13/10/2022

Call Closing Date

31/01/2023

National Contact Point(s)

For more information, please contact the EU Contact Point.

EU Contact Point

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

https://ec.europa.eu/oceans-and-fisheries/contact-form_en

European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)

https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/contact-0_en

CINEA-EMFAF-CALLS@ec.europa.eu

Telephone: +32 (0)2 299 5252

(Publish Date: 13/10/2022-for internal use only)