European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 201-2027: Commission adopts €38.3 million programme for Cyprus

The EU contribution for the Cypriot Programme Fisheries 2021-2027 accounts for €38.8 million, and with national funding its total financial allocation reaches €54.7 million for the full programming period. The Fund will support the fishing and aquaculture sectors in Cyprus by facilitating the green and digital transition, improving resilience, and boosting innovation. Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “I am delighted to announce this new EMFAF Programme that will support sustainable investments in aquaculture and fisheries in Cyprus, accelerating a green and digital transition of the sector. The programme will make an important contribution to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy in the Mediterranean and to the protection of the marine environment, while supporting the industry’s resilience and profitability.” More concretely, the programme will support investments in fishing vessels to improve safety, health, hygiene, working conditions, energy efficiency and decarbonisation, as well as the acceleration of the digitalisation of fisheries control, in particular as regards fisheries management and control through the development and use of control IT tools. The latter will help Cyprus comply with the landing obligation. Investments in aquaculture for the diversification of farmed aquaculture species will contribute to the reduction of the environmental impact of the sector. The programme will support the objectives of the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Cypriot Prioritised Action Framework through marine environment actions, such as the development of the management of marine protected areas, the monitoring of coastal habitats and species and the promotion of scientific knowledge for issues related to the Habitat and Birds Directives. More information is in the news item.