European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)

Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-10 12:35

EU cornerstone fund with 6.1 billion EUR budget (2021-2027). Supports sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, aquaculture innovation. Multiple rolling calls with deadlines throughout 2025-2026. Non-profit organizations eligible. Managed by CINEA.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/programmes/emfaf

Funding Details

Funder

European Commission / CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency)

Funding Goal

Support sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, aquaculture development, blue economy innovation, and international ocean governance across EU member states

Funding Amount

Total budget €6.108 billion (2021-2027). Direct management: €797 million via CINEA grants and procurement. Shared management: €5.311 billion through national co-financed programmes. Individual grant amounts vary per call. (up to 6.108.000.000 €)

How to Apply

Two pathways: (1) Direct management — respond to specific calls for proposals published by CINEA on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Register on the portal, obtain a PIC number, and submit proposals following call-specific templates. (2) Shared management — contact the national EMFAF managing authority in the relevant EU member state, verify project eligibility, and follow national application procedures and selection criteria.

Target Region

EU member states (primarily), with some international ocean governance components

Contact

CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) manages direct management funds. National EMFAF managing authorities handle shared management in each EU member state. IT Helpdesk available via EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Last Checked

2026-03-11 19:02

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a legal entity established in an EU member state (or associated country, depending on call)
• For shared management: contact national EMFAF managing authority to verify project eligibility before applying

Project Scope

• Project must align with EMFAF priorities: sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity, aquaculture, blue economy, or ocean governance

Required Documents

• For direct management grants: respond to specific CINEA calls for proposals published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal
• Register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC)
• Follow call-specific templates and guidelines for proposal submission

Constraints

• Budget and co-financing requirements vary per call — check individual call conditions
• Shared management funds follow national procedures and selection criteria set by each member state

Summary

The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is the EU's cornerstone funding instrument for ocean and fisheries policy, running from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of €6.108 billion. It supports the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU Maritime Policy, and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. The fund is aligned with the European Green Deal and promotes sustainable ocean management across member states. EMFAF operates through two management modes: shared management (€5.311 billion) delivered through national co-financed programmes managed by member state authorities, and direct management (€797 million) administered by the European Commission through CINEA. Direct management funds are distributed through calls for proposals (grants), calls for tenders (procurement), and ad hoc grants for specific actions including studies, assistance mechanisms, and cooperative projects. The fund supports a wide range of activities including sustainable and low-carbon fishing transitions, marine biodiversity and ecosystem protection, sustainable aquaculture development, blue economy innovation, coastal community revitalization, maritime security, and international ocean cooperation. For shared management funds, applicants must contact their national EMFAF managing authority to verify eligibility and follow national procedures. For direct management grants, applicants respond to specific calls published by CINEA on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Non-profit organizations, research institutions, SMEs, and public bodies are among eligible applicants depending on the specific call.

Historical Context

EMFAF (2021-2027) is the successor to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF, 2014-2020). It is part of the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework and is aligned with the European Green Deal. Multiple calls are published on a rolling basis throughout the programming period.

Why it was added

Primary EU fund for marine and fisheries activities. Massive budget, multiple open calls. Directly relevant for sustainable aquaculture and marine conservation NGOs.

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