July 13, 2022

European Commission adopts financial aid programme for aquaculture in France

A new €567.1 million (US$591.6 million) European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme for French fisheries and aquaculture for the period of 2021-2027 has been adopted by the European Commission.

Alongside national funding, the total financial allocation aimed at implementing the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal, and the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies amounts to a total of €793.3 million (US$827.6 million) for the new funding period.

According to the commission, the fund will support France's fishing and aquaculture sectors 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.

It will help companies in the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors face climate change and health events as well as mitigating the impact of crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-Brexit fallout. Attention will also be given to upgrading health and hygiene conditions in fisheries and aquaculture and to guarantee safe working conditions.

Specifically, the programme will support such activities as restructuring and modernising the fishing fleet, implementing the landing obligation, improving fishing gear selectivity and improving the knowledge and management of marine protected areas (MPAs).

EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said the commission has stood by the French fishermen in difficult times.

"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," he said.

France's National Institute for Ocean Science IFREMER will be in charge of carrying out observations on fishing effort overseas.

- SeafoodSource