EU fisheries, aquaculture funding arrives for Sweden, Finland

Sweden has been allocated EUR 115.9 million (USD 118.1 million) in European Union funding to help promote the sustainable growth of the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors, and to stimulate innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

The European Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Program for the country and will implement the E.U. common fisheries policy and priorities outlined in the European Green Deal. The total financial allocation for the Swedish Program 2021-2027 is EUR 231.6 million (USD 235.9 million) over the next six years, with the E.U. contributing almost half.

In addition to supporting the sustainable development of Sweden’s fisheries sector with the E.U.’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) by investing in projects that support the landing obligation, the use of selective and predator-safe fishing gear, and which protect marine biodiversity and preserve marine protected areas, the program will look to increase the country’s aquaculture production by 71 percent by 2030 through investments in start-ups and the development of existing sites.

Sweden is boosting its EMFAF share for aquaculture with EUR 110 million (USD 112.1 million) of national co-financing, bringing total funding for aquaculture to EUR 141 million (USD 143.6 million), or 40 percent of the total program budget.

Meanwhile, Finland has received EUR 71.8 million (USD 73.1 million) in funding from the E.U. for its fisheries and aquaculture development for the same six years, contributing to a total financial allocation of EUR 140.3 million (USD 142.9 million).

Among the ambitions is a doubling of Finnish aquaculture production by 2030, with the aim to achieve this through the development of licensing, location management, circular economy solutions, new technologies, and emission-based permits.

The program is also looking to increase fish consumption in Finland to two portions per person per week by 2030.

Photo courtesy of Igor Grochev/Shutterstock