European Commission adopts €518 million fisheries support programme for Italy

The European Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme for Italy.

The total financial allocation for the Italian programme for 2021-2027 is €987.2 million (US$982 million) over the next six years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €518.2 million (US$515.51 million).

About 49.8 per cent of the programme's allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries, 32.8 per cent will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing, 10 per cent will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and internal regions and 1.4 per cent will be invested in the strengthening of international ocean governance.

Among the activities that the programme will support are the following:

• Investments to comply with the landing obligation (as certain catches of fish are not allowed to be discarded at sea); conservation policies; reduction of the over-capacity of certain fleet segments; fisheries control and data collection; investments in fishing vessels to improve safety, health, hygiene, working conditions; energy efficiency and decarbonisation in fisheries.
• Investments in sustainable aquaculture projects and for the diversification of farmed aquaculture species; energy efficiency and decarbonisation in aquaculture and the processing of the fish products.
• Development of coastal and island areas through Local Action Groups (LAG).
• Marine knowledge, maritime surveillance and coast guard cooperation.

The financial support will also help to develop and establish marine protected areas and to address the problem of marine litter.