Based on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of all EU member states, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) aims to promote ecologically sustainable, resilient, innovative and competitive aquaculture and fisheries as a contribution to food security. Other funding priorities include the processing and marketing of fishery products, in particular through the optimization of regional value chains and the development of fishing regions with local strategies to strengthen rural areas. The following are eligible to apply

• Fishing and aquaculture businesses that operate fishing / pond farming / aquaculture for commercial purposes,
• Companies involved in the treatment and processing of fish products,
• Associations and organizations as well as public institutions active in the field of aquaculture and fisheries.

Eligible projects are

• in the field of aquaculture and pond farming, including conversion to organic carp pond farming,
• commercial inland fishing (river and lake fishermen),
• the processing and marketing of fish products
• in the so-called fishing areas.

Funding

• The funding rate is generally 50%. Higher funding rates are possible for projects carried out by public institutions, collective beneficiaries or young entrepreneurs. The same applies to fencing measures to keep out otters.
• As a rule, the grant is limited to a maximum total grant of EUR 400,000 per beneficiary. This upper limit can only be used once in the EMFAF.
• Projects whose eligible expenditure is below the de minimis limit cannot be funded.
• Applicants who have been convicted of fraud under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) or the EMFAF are not eligible for funding.
• Applicants who have committed environmental crimes in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of Directive 2008/99/EC must be temporarily excluded from funding in the aquaculture sector.