Source: European Parliament
1. The Commission is currently not considering a revision of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund[1] (EMFAF). The EMFAF can already support the development and testing of new and innovative solutions for the fleet[2], as well as certain investments to modernise the fleet[3]. Investments in the fleet are subject to strict conditionality, to ensure that there are no resulting harmful subsidies. Given its small budget, the EMFAF can achieve better collective benefits by incentivising, facilitating testing and development, and bringing technology to market, rather than investing in the renewal of a small number of privately owned vessels.
2. The Marine Action Plan[4] promotes sustainable fishing practices with less environmental impact, in accordance with current legislation[5] and policy objectives. It is a component of the European Green Deal and focuses on the implementation of existing legislation[6].
3. The Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Regulation[7] establishes a coordinated EU-wide framework for action to address the adverse impacts of IAS. The marine dimension of IAS can be complemented with more specific EU laws[8]. In the Mediterranean, the EU works closely with the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), developing pilot projects and research programmes to address IAS. The GFCM is setting-up a non-indigenous species (NIS) observatory, aimed at data collection and information sharing. Member States can use their EMFAF programme to support monitoring, mitigation and surveillance of NIS.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.
- [2] E.g. prototype vessels and gears.
- [3] Improving gear selectivity, safety on board, energy efficiency.
- [4] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘EU Action Plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries’, COM(2023) 102 final.
- [5] Such as Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869; and Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy.
- [6] In this respect, work is expected to continue on implementing the marine action plan.
- [7] Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 35-55.
- [8] Such as the regulation (EC) No 708/2007 of 11 June 2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture; or the directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive).