Spain, Croatia latest to benefit from EU fisheries funding

Spain is to receive EUR 1.12 billion (USD 1.2 billion) from the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027, and Croatia EUR 243.6 million (USD 252.7 million), the European Commission has confirmed.

The total financial allocation for the Spanish program is EUR 1.57 billion (USD 1.6 billion), while Croatia’s is EUR 348 million (USD 361.1 million). The EMFAF replaced the European Maritime Fisheries Fund in 2021, and the fund supports the implementation of the Eureopan Green Deal by managing relevant E.U. programs. Each E.U. member-state is allocated a share of the total fund budget based on the size of its seafood industry.

The European Commission said 41.1 percent of Spain’s program allocation, or EUR 460.9 million (USD 478.2 million), will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries; 35.5 percent, or EUR 387.2 million (USD 401.7 million), will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing; 9.4 percent, or EUR 105.3 million (USD 109.2 million), will support the development of a sustainable blue economy in coastal regions; 5.2 percent, or EUR 58.1 million (USD 60.3 million), will go to the Canary Islands’ fisheries and aquaculture sectors; and 3.2 percent, or EUR 35.5 million (USD 36.8 million), will be invested in the strengthening of international ocean governance.

E.U. Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said the adoption of the EMFAF program for Spain, which is the largest member-state program, will play a crucial role for the future of the country’s fishing sector.

“The program will foster a more green, blue, and digital transition along the whole fisheries value chain and will promote sustainable aquaculture and processing activities,” Sinkevičius said.

For Croatia's allocations, 46.4 percent, or EUR 113 million (USD 117.2 million), will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries; 39.6 percent, or EUR 96.4 million (USD 100 million), will be invested in sustainable aquaculture, processing and marketing; 13.6 percent, or EUR 33.2 million (USD 34.4 million), will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy; and 0.4 percent, or EUR 900,000 (USD 933,524), will be invested in strengthening of international ocean governance.

“The adopted program will help Croatia accelerate the transition towards sustainable use of natural resources, support the protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity, as well as promote low-carbon aquaculture and processing. It will boost the green and digital transformation, contribute to the vitality of coastal communities, and strengthen sustainable sea and ocean management,” Sinkevičius said.

These new EMFAFs run to 2027 and support the E.U. common fisheries policy (CFP), the E.U. maritime policy, and the E.U. agenda for international ocean governance.

The commission also recently confirmed funding for Germany and Bulgaria.

Photo courtesy of Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock