Brussels, 02/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission adopted the draft regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) on Friday 2 December. The directive will bring an end to aid for decommissioning of vessels and for temporary laying up, and introduce aid for “smart, green fisheries”, that is, fishing that “produces no discards, does less damage to marine ecosystems”, in the words of the draft. The Commission does not overlook the social dimension (and the link with the EUROPE 2020 strategy), proposing instruments that are able to ensure sustainable, inclusive territorial development to “reverse the decline of many coastal communities dependent on fisheries”. Provision is made, too, for storage aid (to run only until 2019, however) for producers' organisations.
This new fund, which will have a budget of €6.5 billion over seven years from 2014 to 2020 (€7.5 billion if the money set aside for fisheries agreements with third counties and regional fisheries organisations is taken into account), will replace the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), which is due to expire at the end of 2013.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: “This new fund will increase economic growth and create jobs in the sector. No more money will be spent to build big vessels. Small-scale fisheries and aquaculture will benefit from this budgetary greening of the common fisheries policy”.
Social dimension. The EMFF recognises, for the first time, the role of spouses, for the most part women, in family fishing businesses. Fishers' spouses will, then, be able to receive EMFF support for training. The EMFF will also promote human capital and encourage diversification by enabling local communities to acquire the skills needed for new activities emerging in other maritime sectors. Under the EMFF, small-scale coastal fleets will enjoy a higher aid intensity rate.
Environmental sustainability. The EMFF will support the transition to maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and facilitate the gradual introduction of a discard ban. There will be aid to: - encourage the use of more selective fishing gear and fishing techniques; - support investment in equipment on board and port facilities necessary for the use of unwanted catches (to make use of catches that would formerly have been thrown overboard); - and support marketing measures and processing. The financial allocation for data collection and scientific advice (to increase the number of stocks for which scientific advice is available) and to control expenditure (to ensure improved compliance) has been substantially increased.
The EMFF will support some measures to mitigate climate change. The fund will also seek, for the first time, to promote new forms of aquaculture with high growth potential, such as offshore and non-food aquaculture. (LC/transl.rt)