Programme Category
Programme Name
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
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
This topic aims at reorienting fishers from extraction to ocean regeneration activities. It will 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, if possible in connection with marine protected areas.
Detailed Call Description
The proposals should focus on the job maintenance and job creation for local communities, on reskilling needs and development of future business opportunities that will both create added value while regenerating marine ecosystems.
Selected projects should carry out to the maximum extent possible the indicative (not exhaustive) activities listed below:
- Collect quantitative and qualitative data, guidelines, good practice on past and ongoing experiences of regenerative ocean farming in the Baltic Sea Region and in other EU countries to provide evidence of their social, economic, and environmental benefits;
- Develop practical guidelines, training and dissemination materials (including videos and IT tools) to support new seaweed and shellfish farmers, and other interested stakeholders, in the reorientation towards setting and operating regenerative ocean farming;
- Demonstrate and test-base innovative methods for regenerative ocean farming, of either local seaweed species or seaweed in combination with shellfish to prove viability of future business cases while generating positive environmental impacts;
- Set-up local/regional networks by engaging with local communities, in particular with fishers (to examine their willingness and experience) and local authorities, to share knowledge and co-create ad-hoc technical solutions and business models to support a fast deployment of regenerative ocean farming;
- Identify enabling and/or preventing legislative frameworks by discussing with local authorities and maritime spatial planners how to facilitate and remove barriers (e.g. licensing of farms, access to space) to the setting up and operation of regenerative ocean farming without affecting other aspects of ecosystems conservation/restoration;
- Assess the potential of expanding marine protected areas by exploring the full regenerative potential of innovative regenerative ocean farming by testing their viability in connection with marine protected areas;
- Raise awareness campaigns and increase social acceptance among local communities by sharing experience and evidence of the likely positive impacts of regenerative ocean farming.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
80%
Thematic Categories
- Fisheries/ Aquaculture and Maritime Policy
- Industry
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- Fishermen, Aquaculturists, Owners of Vessels
- International Organisations
- Local Authorities
- NGOs
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
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 targeted in this call for proposals
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
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)