European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027

Enriched – · Found: 2026-03-13 16:39

EU-wide funding program supporting innovative projects for sustainable maritime and fisheries resources, including marine litter removal, ghost gear collection, and circular economy initiatives. Budget: EUR 6.108 billion. NGOs, authorities, and companies eligible. Apply through national managing authorities.

Source: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-investment/emfaf_en

Funding Details

Funder

European Commission (DG MARE)

Funding Goal

Supporting innovative projects for sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, maritime economy, and ocean governance, including marine litter collection, ghost gear removal, marine biodiversity protection, and circular economy initiatives in the maritime sector.

Funding Amount

Total budget EUR 6.108 billion (2021-2027): EUR 5.311 billion via national programmes (shared management) + EUR 797 million directly by the Commission (direct management).

How to Apply

For shared management funds: Contact the national authority in each EU member state. See list of EMFAF national authorities at https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-investment/emfaf/list-emfaf-national-authorities_en. For direct management calls: Check EC funding portals for open calls.

Target Region

European Union member states; international ocean governance activities globally

Last Checked

2026-03-13 17:22

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Check if your organization is based in an EU member state or eligible for direct management calls

Project Scope

• Projects must contribute to sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine biodiversity, or blue economy
• Marine litter and ghost gear projects eligible under Specific Objective 1.6

Required Documents

• For shared management: contact the national EMFAF authority in your country first

Constraints

• Co-financing requirements vary by national programme — check national programme rules
• Programme runs 2021-2027; specific call deadlines vary by national authority and EC call schedule

Summary

The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is the EU's primary funding instrument for maritime and fisheries sectors, running from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of EUR 6.108 billion. It supports the EU Common Fisheries Policy, maritime policy, and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. The fund helps achieve sustainable fisheries, conserve marine biological resources, grow the blue economy, and ensure healthy, safe, and sustainably managed seas. EMFAF funds a wide range of activities including the transition to sustainable and low-carbon fishing, protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystems, development of sustainable aquaculture, improvement of skills and working conditions in fisheries, and innovation in the blue economy. Specific objectives include marine litter collection and ghost gear removal, supporting circular economy initiatives in the maritime sector, and coastal community development. Funding is managed through two channels: shared management (EUR 5.311 billion distributed through national programmes co-financed by EU countries) and direct management (EUR 797 million managed directly by the European Commission). Applicants seeking shared management funding must contact their national authority; Commission-managed calls are published separately. For organizations working on plastic waste in marine environments, ghost gear collection, or circular economy projects linked to fisheries, EMFAF offers relevant funding opportunities through specific objectives like SO1.6 (protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems), which explicitly includes marine litter and fishing gear collection.

Historical Context

EMFAF entered into force on 14 July 2021, succeeding the EMFF (2014-2020). The fund structure maintains country allocations proportional to the previous EMFF period. Programme runs 2021-2027.

Sources

• https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-investment/emfaf_en

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