The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is inviting submissions from stakeholders on the draft Seafood Development Programme 2021-27.

Potential funding of up to €258.4 million for Ireland’s seafood and marine sector may be available for the programme under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), including a €134 million EU contribution and a Government contribution of €116 million — representing an increase in funding over the previous EMFF programme of 2014-2020.

In order to manage this funding, a draft programme has been developed outlining a strategy for how the objectives of the EMFAF can be achieved in an Irish context.

The programme has been developed over the past two years, including an initial public consultation process, bilateral discussions with key stakeholders, desk review of relevant national and EU policies, debates with stakeholders, and discussions with the Commission.

It was also developed in the context of the Report of the Seafood Taskforce – Navigating Change published last October, which made recommendations for supporting the seafood sector to overcome the impacts of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and how funds from both the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and EMFAF can be best leveraged to implement these recommendations.

The programme aims to support a diverse range of activities within the marine area. For fisheries, it envisages support for capital investment on board, capital investment ashore relating to the landing obligation, innovation in fishing gear and methods, technical advice to the fleet, acquisition of first vessel by young fishers, supports to the inshore fleet, training and marketing.

For aquaculture, the programme envisages support for implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture. This will include in particular support for capital investment in aquaculture sites, supports for innovation and research to develop technology and enhance knowledge, advisory services, training and marketing.

For processing, it envisages support for capital investment in seafood processing enterprises, in particular to add value to raw material, enhance energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, and enhance competitiveness. It will also support innovation to develop new products, advisory services, marketing and training.

The programme aims to support the socio-economic development and diversification of coastal communities through the seven Fisheries Local Action Groups. This will carry on from the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme, implemented through the FLAGs over 2022/23, but will also have a broader remit to support community type projects.

It aims to support Ireland’s environmental obligations through a continuation of the EMFF Marine Biodiversity Scheme. This will fund appropriate assessment of fisheries and aquaculture activities, reporting on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, projects in support of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), and species and habitat restoration.

The programme also aims to support enhancement of Ireland's knowledge of its marine environment, particularly in terms of enhancing knowledge of climate change impacts on fish stocks, habitats and species.

Lastly, the programme aims to fund Ireland’s compliance with its obligations under the CFP, specifically for fisheries protection and for fisheries management science.

The department is also inviting submissions on the draft SEA Environmental report and Natura Impact Statement to further inform the programme’s development, prior to its submission to the Government for approval and the European Commission for adoption.

Written submissions are invited from interested parties by the closing date of Friday 26 August 2022 at 4pm. Written submissions may be sent by email to [email protected]. Please mark your submissions “EMFAF Operational Programme”.

For links to the relevant documents, see the Gov.ie website HERE.

#Budget2016 - The Seafood Development Programme will get a boost from next year's Budget, according to Marine Minister Simon Coveney.

Welcoming the €94 million in national co-funding under yesterday's Budget 2016 announcement, the minister says it will contribute, along with the allocation of almost €147 million for Ireland under the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020, to enabling the launch of "new schemes" under the programme launched in March this year.

These will be "aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the seafood sector to 2020 and availing of the opportunities presented by the growing demand for seafood internationally."

Pending approval of the programme, Minister Coveney said he is "providing some €36 million to my department, the Marine Institute and BIM to fund the roll-out of capital investment schemes for the seafood sector under the programme.

"In 2016, this is expected to include the launch of a range of new investment schemes for the CFP discards ban, decommissioning scheme, sustainability in the inshore fisheries sector aquaculture development, seafood processing and Fisheries Local Action Groups."

The €36 million will come from the €103.8 million allocation for fisheries, fishery harbours and marine-related non-commercial State-sponsored bodies: the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.

Minister Coveney also welcomed the publication yesterday of the independent Marine Taxation Review, which recommends potential areas for support of this key sector through the taxation system.

“I look forward to further engagement with Minister Noonan on the implementation of these recommendations, particularly in relation to the proposed extension of seafarers tax allowances to the fishing industry; and the recommendation for appropriate tax treatment to support the fishing vessel decommissioning scheme.”