The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 is the primary funding programme for the seafood sector. It is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the EU.
Schemes under EMFAF are being administered by BIM, including:
Small Scale Coastal Fisheries Scheme – 80% support for onshore and offshore investments made by eligible small cale coastal fishing vessel owners.
Sustainable Fisheries Scheme – 50% support for onboard investments made by eligible non-small scale coastal fishing vessel owners to improve quality, energy efficiency and health and safety.
V Notching Scheme –100% support for eligible small scale coastal fishing vessels and 50% for other eligible vessels supporting conservation of lobster.
Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme – 50% for investments to add value to, or fully utilise raw material and 30% for investments to optimise operations.
Seafood Training Scheme – 100% support rate for small scale coastal fishing (SSCF) vessel owners for courses deemed relevant for SSCF vessels, and 50% for all other eligible applicants, and all other courses which SSCF vessel owners might choose to attend.
Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme – 50% support rate for eligible aquaculture operators for investments in sustainable aquaculture, product innovation development, energy efficiency measure, safety equipment, animal health and welfare, food quality and hygiene safety.
Young Fishers Scheme – funding towards purchase of first secondhand vessel. Grant aid of 40% of the cost of vessel acquisition, proportionate to the applicant’s shareholding in the vessel.
Seafood Capacity Building Scheme – This scheme supports industry members to participate in BIM-led international field missions with the objective of increasing industry knowledge or supporting technology transfer
Inshore Fleet Economic Assessment Scheme – This scheme aims to gather data regarding the inshore fleet. The data collected through this project, along with the previous 2023 inshore census, will be used to shape further supports for the sector into the future.
EMFAF is a successor to the European Maritime, Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020 and 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.
EMFAF will fund management of fisheries, aquaculture and fishing fleets, and cover measures such as scientific advice, controls and checks, market intelligence, maritime surveillance and security.
It will particularly support small-scale coastal fisheries and vessels up to 24 meters as well as promote aquaculture. For the first time, the fund also includes provisions on strengthening international ocean governance and helping respond to exceptional crises that cause market disruptions e.g. temporary storage measures or compensation for additional costs.
The EMFAF will fund BIM internal work programmes and projects across schemes.
These schemes will deliver important elements of the €258 million Seafood Development Programme. The Marine Programmes Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is responsible for the development and implementation of the programme.