The Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) organised an online Seminar on 07 July 2022 on the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) with DG MARE’s expert Vincent Guerre.
Mr. Guerre presented the functioning of the EMFAF, with the European Commission and Member States’ shared competences and the different steps for the approval and funding of “operations” (the administrative name for project proposals). You can find his presentation here.
A very interesting discussion between DG MARE’s expert and the AAC members followed the presentation, with the Commission answering questions on e.g., the use of the financial instrument by Member States, the eligibility of funding for research, marketing and innovation activities, the allocation of direct management funds, the support to Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, the link between EMFAF and national aquaculture plans and the possibilities for funding trans-national projects.
The AAC Working Group Chair Brian Thomsen, who was chairing the event, concluded that the AAC members will continue monitoring the development of financial instruments by the Member States’ administration, the support of knowledge and best practices transfer between Member States and the funding of trans-national initiatives.
The AAC thanks the European Commission for this opportunity to discuss in detail such an important matter for the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in the EU.