European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)

Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-10 17:40

EU cornerstone fund for aquaculture including seaweed and kelp farming. Supports sustainable aquaculture projects through national co-financing. Covers innovation, environmental sustainability, and market development in marine sectors.

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

Funding Details

Funder

European Commission - Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Funding Goal

Support innovative projects contributing to sustainable exploitation and management of aquatic and maritime resources; promote sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine biodiversity conservation, blue economy development, coastal community livelihoods, and maritime safety across EU member states through co-financed national programmes and direct grants.

Funding Amount

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

Deadline

Rolling basis - managed through national operational programmes; CINEA direct management calls announced periodically (Rolling)

How to Apply

For shared management: contact the national managing authority in your country (list available at https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-investment/emfaf/list-emfaf-national-authorities_en). For direct management: apply via CINEA calls for proposals listed at https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/european-maritime-fisheries-and-aquaculture-fund_en

Target Region

European Union member states; coastal regions, maritime areas

Contact

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries - via national EMFAF managing authorities or CINEA for direct management calls

Last Checked

2026-05-07 06:34

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be established in an EU member state
• For shared management: apply through national managing authority in your country
• For direct management (CINEA): monitor Funding & Tenders Portal for specific calls

Project Scope

• Project must align with at least one EMFAF priority area (fisheries, aquaculture, blue economy, marine conservation)
• Projects must contribute to sustainable exploitation/management of aquatic or maritime resources

Required Documents

• Submit application through national EMFAF programme or CINEA portal depending on sub-programme

Constraints

• Co-financing requirements vary by national programme and operation type
• Project duration and maximum grant amounts determined by national operational programme rules

Summary

The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is the EU's cornerstone funding instrument for maritime, fisheries and aquaculture sectors, running from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of EUR 6.108 billion. The fund entered into force on 14 July 2021 and supports the EU Common Fisheries Policy, EU maritime policy, and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. The thematic scope of EMFAF is broad and includes: transition to sustainable and low-carbon fishing practices; protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystems; supply of quality seafood to EU consumers; socio-economic vitality and generational renewal of coastal fishing communities, particularly small-scale coastal fisheries; development of sustainable and competitive aquaculture (including seaweed and shellfish); innovation in the sustainable blue economy; maritime security; and international cooperation for healthy ocean governance. The fund explicitly aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 on ocean conservation. Eligible activities span a wide range: infrastructure investments in fishing vessels and ports, aquaculture production facilities, collection and processing equipment, innovation and R&D projects, environmental monitoring, biodiversity restoration, coastal community development initiatives, skills training, data collection, and market development for sustainable seafood products. Projects must contribute to at least one of the fund's core objectives. Geographically, EMFAF targets all EU member states with coastlines or significant maritime/fisheries sectors. Each country has an operational programme outlining its specific investment priorities. The shared management component (EUR 5.3 billion) is distributed through national managing authorities, while the Commission-managed component (EUR 797 million) is accessed directly through CINEA calls for proposals. Eligible applicants vary by country and call type: fishing operators, aquaculture enterprises (from SMEs to cooperatives), NGOs active in marine conservation or coastal communities, research institutions, local action groups, and public authorities. For direct management calls, eligibility is defined per call in the Funding & Tenders Portal. Budget allocation is country-specific under shared management. Co-financing rates and maximum grant intensities depend on the type of operation and national programme rules. There is no single maximum grant amount at the EU level for shared management projects.

Historical Context

EMFAF entered into force 14 July 2021, replacing the previous European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the 2021-2027 programming period. The fund added 'Aquaculture' to its title compared to the previous EMFF, reflecting expanded support for sustainable aquaculture development.

Why it was added

Primary EU funding mechanism for seaweed aquaculture, supports NGOs through national co-financing programs

Sources

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

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