The EMFAF (European Maritime, Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund) runs from 2021 to 2027 and supports the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance.
It provides support for developing innovative projects ensuring that aquatic and maritime resources are used sustainably.
As a global ocean actor and a major producer of seafood, the EU has a responsibility to protect and sustainably use the oceans and their resources. It is also in the EU's socio-economic interest to guarantee the availability of food supplies, the competitiveness of the maritime economy and the livelihood of coastal communities.
The fund helps achieve sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biological resources. This leads to
- food security through the supply of seafood products
- growth of a sustainable blue economy
- healthy, safe and sustainably managed seas and oceans
It also helps achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 (‘conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’), to which the EU is committed.
Furthermore, the EMFAF helps fulfil the objectives of the European Green Deal, the roadmap for the EU climate and environmental policies.
The Marine Institute is implementing three schemes: Marine Biodiversity, Marine Knowledge and Data Collection. The collection and use of biological, ecological and socioeconomic data is maximised by integrating across the three schemes, adding value to existing sampling programmes and developing multiple data products for different end-user and policy needs.
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