October 7, 2020

80% of Spain's regional grants for sustainable aquaculture allocated to mussel industry

Spain's mussel industry received 80% of the country's regional grants under the Consellería do Mar for the promotion of sustainable aquaculture activities, Fish Information & Services reported.

The regional grants of EUR 6 million total were allocated towards 103 projects. Half of these projects are related to mussel rafts.

The projects are expected to generate EUR 12 million, with half of this total to come from regional aid co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

Apart from this grant, separate subsidies were provided to small and medium-sized companies focused on the transformation of seafood. 43 projects will be granted EUR 15 million in regional aid over the next few years.

Like the aquaculture sector subsidies, this aid covers half the total investment of the beneficiaries, totaling EUR 30 million.

The aids are granted for seafood transformation projects are aimed at improving the industry's energy efficiency, reducing its impact on the environment, promoting innovation and improving the industry's working conditions and safety.

-      Reuters