Mid-term evaluation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027

As the main funding mechanism aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of EU fisheries, the EMFAF plays a crucial role in supporting the Common Fisheries Policy, effectively protecting the marine environment, and fostering the resilience of the fishing sector.

In the attached document you will find the comments of the Austrian Lake Fisheries and Aquaculture Association (ÖVFA) on the Call for Evidence for the ex-post evaluation of the EMFF 2014-2020 and the interim evaluation of the EMFAF 2021-2027.

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

In the attached document you will find the comments of the Austrian Lake Fisheries and Aquaculture Association (ÖVFA) on the Call for Evidence for the ex-post evaluation of the EMFF 2014-2020 and the interim evaluation of the EMFAF 2021-2027.

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

Réunion’s fisheries sector remains a small-scale traditional and artisanal coastal fishery, with a limited number of catches and a limited impact on the environment and fisheries resources. This major economic sector contributes to the food security and tourism, cultural and gastronomy of these territories.

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

Réunion’s fisheries sector remains a small-scale traditional and artisanal coastal fishery, with a limited number of catches and a limited impact on the environment and fisheries resources. This major economic sector contributes to the food security and tourism, cultural and gastronomy of these territories.

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

Danish Fishers PO and Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation welcome the consultations on fisheries and maritime activities funding programmes. Since 2014 The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF 2014-2020) and European Martime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF 2021-2027) have been potentially important financial aid schemes for the fishing industry in EU.

Danish Fishers PO and Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation welcome the consultations on fisheries and maritime activities funding programmes. Since 2014 The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF 2014-2020) and European Martime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF 2021-2027) have been potentially important financial aid schemes for the fishing industry in EU.

The EMFF had and EMFAF has objectives to strengthen international ocean governance and enable seas and oceans to be safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed, including through the promotion of marine knowledge. In addition, the EMFAF aims to facilitate the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

The Comité Interprofessionnel des Produits de lAquaculture (CIPA) is the interbranch organisation recognised by the French State for the fish farming sector. CIPA brings together representatives of the salmonella removal sectors in fresh and seawater, turgeon farmers, marine fish farmers, trout processors and fish feed producers.

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CIWFI supports the conclusions drawn in the European Court of Auditors (ECA) special report on EU aquaculture, published in November 2023, which highlights gaps in the current monitoring of sustainability progress within the sector. As the report indicates, there is a notable absence of reliable indicators for monitoring sustainability progress in this sector.

We appreciate the opportunity to provide our feedback on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020 (EMFF) and its successor the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027 (EMFAF). In line with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), we believe that these funds must be more effectively aligned with sustainable fishing practices and the protection of marine ecosystems.

Key players in port development, maritime training, research and economic development, the coastal regions are concerned about the future of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Some, such as the Brittany region, are directly involved in the day-to-day management and implementation of the EMFAF, as an intermediate body.

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The need to rethink and optimise the use of public subsidies is pivotal to ensure a prompt transition towards low-impact, socially responsible and economically viable fisheries, and ensure thriving and diversified coastal economies. Regrettably, a concerning share of the funds distributed through the EMFF and the EMFAF are considered capacity enhancing and/or environmentally harmful.

Please find attached the contribution of the Federal Agency for Water Management, Austria. Key message: Austrias aquaculture sector has seen positive development, driven by increased professionalization and new technologies. To sustain and boost this momentum, support from the EMF/EMFA funds is crucial.

Encourage the European Commission to address the conclusions from the European Court of Auditors' special report on EU aquaculture in its midterm review, which highlights the lack of reliable indicators for measuring sustainability progress and the urgent need to resolve this issue.

Encourage the European Commission to address the conclusions from the European Court of Auditors' special report on EU aquaculture in its midterm review, which underscores the lack of reliable indicators for measuring sustainability progress and the urgent need to tackle this issue.

Dear Mr/Ms, please find attached the opinion of the BLOOM association to the public consultation “European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 – Mid-term evaluation”. Warmly, BLOOM Association

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) plays a crucial role in supporting the EUs fisheries policy. However, despite its exclusion of certain activities (such as constructing new fishing vessels or increasing vessel power) and the implementation of safeguards against harmful effects, its decentralised structure allows Member States to finance activities that can be detrimental to biodiversity…

With 410 companies per 7 500 employees (INSEE, DADS, 2021), mastering is an indispensable player in the French fisheries sector. As a technical and commercial intermediary, it valorises every day the diversity of catches landed in auctions from its retail customers, wholesalers, restaurants, and so on. More than 140kT of French fishery products are thus treated annually by this SME fabric.

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

PLEASE FIND ATTACHED A DOCUMENT CONTAINING THE COMMENTS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE EUROPEAN MARITIMO, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE FUND (EMFAF) (2021-2027): INTERIM EVALUATION.

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

Please find attached the contribution of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management to the Call for evidence for the EU Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014 2020 ex post evaluation and for the EU Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021 2027 mid-term evaluation (Ref. Ares(2024)4229126 12/06/2024).

Please find attached the contribution of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management to the Call for evidence for the EU Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014 2020 ex post evaluation and for the EU Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021 2027 mid-term evaluation (Ref.

En fecha de ayer envíe un escrito, al cual desearía ampliarlo: Al hacer referencia a la recuperación de los hábitats marinos con la construcción de arrecifes naturales de piedras calcáreas con módulos de un m3, creo que en las aguas de Menorca se podrían colocar inicialmente más de 500 unidades de 15/20 módulos de m3, de igual manera de participar en su colocación los barcos de arrastre, sería una manera de poder…

Many science-industry research collaboration projects were funded through the Dutch operational programme of EMFF. We welcome this very much, as this is often the only accessible funding available for such research projects. The level of bureaucracy involved in the tender procedure and the reporting of granted projects is, however, out of proportion.

Ref.:142/2024 Rome, 18 July 2024 MEDAC contribution to the EMFAF Mid Term evaluation MEDAC is not able to give a mid-term assessment because the calls for tenders for the EMFAF have not yet started in several Member States (MSs). The expectation is that they will be launched by the year 2024. In 2023 and 2024 MEDAC analyzed and compared the different measures under the EMFF and the EMFAF.

Ref.:143/2024 Rome, 18 July 2024 MEDAC contribution to the EMFF ex post evaluation The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) has played an important role in supporting the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the European Union (EU) since 2007. However, several critical issues have emerged from practical application over the years.

The Young Fishermans scheme precludes those who have owned & registered a fishing vessel in the past. The preclusion has excluded many ideal candidates for support from a scheme that is designed to help young people to establish themselves in our industry and follow their dream career.

Under EMFAF, young fishers may not access funding if it is not their first acquisition of a fishing vessel. The support is for the first acquisition of a fishing vessel, that is stated both in the relevant Article and in paragraph 21 of the recital to the Regulation. There are a group of young people who started fishing at an early age because that was all they ever wanted to do.

The Czech Republic supports and welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to carry out an ex-post evaluation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (Article 57 of the Common Provisions Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013), on the basis of which the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and added value of the Fund will be assessed.

Filed in Czech · English published by the European Commission

The Government of the Canary Islands intends to analyse the impact, in terms of effectiveness and efficiency, of the inclusion of aid to compensate for the additional costs incurred by operators in the fishing, farming, processing and marketing of certain fishery and aquaculture products from the Canary Islands in the mid-term evaluation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) (2021-2027).

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

Decisions taken within the EU Commission are based only on data collected over time and not from a recent and current situation. EU provides different ways of interaction, as in this case, but few find this means of communication interesting. Member States’ administrations are struggling with a strong executive in the EU and the unique situations with businesses.

Filed in Italian · English published by the European Commission

the measure to compensate for the additional costs of fisheries and aquaculture applied in the ORs has been essential for the development of our aquaculture enterprise. The same applies to support for productive investment. Thanks to these measures, we have been able to increase employment (from 6 to 12 employees) and production (from 2 to 50 tonnes/year) under the previous programme.

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

The Czech Republic supports and welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to carry out an ex-post evaluation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (Article 57 of the Common Provisions Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013) and a mid-term evaluation of the EMFAF (Article 45(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 laying down Common Provisions), on the basis of which the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and…

Filed in Czech · English published by the European Commission