GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The EMFAF 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.

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

80%

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

• be legal entities (public or private bodies) endorsed by the public authorities or bodies in charge of maritime spatial planning at national level in the related coastal Member States.
• be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
  • non-EU countries in the Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, North Seas and the Mediterranean, or having waters adjacent to EU Outermost Regions, under cross-border Maritime Spatial Planning cooperation and only when its participation is necessary for the objectives of a given action and link with activities undertaken under Regional Sea Conventions – Individual proposals by the non-EU countries are not eligible.
• be public authorities or bodies in charge of maritime spatial planning of coastal Member States.

Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 2 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities), which complies with the following conditions:

• minimum 2 entities from 2 different eligible countries
• Applicants must be public authorities or bodies in charge of maritime spatial planning of those coastal countries which are responsible for MSP in the selected area and/or a regional organisation that has competences in Maritime Spatial Planning or activities concerned by Maritime Spatial Planning (nature protection, development of offshore renewables, fisheries). Other public authorities or bodies shall be considered eligible applicants provided that they are endorsed by the public authorities or bodies in charge of maritime spatial planning at national level in the related coastal countries. The coordinator must be established in an EU Member State.

Eligible activities: are the ones set out in section 2 above. Projects should take into account the results of projects supported by other EU funding programmes. The complementarities must be described in the project proposals (Part B of the Application Form).

Projects must comply with EU policy interests and priorities (such as environment, social, security, industrial and trade policy, etc).

Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Geographic location (target countries)

• Proposals must relate to activities concerning the following sea basin/area: North Sea.
• Proposals may include cooperation with other sea basins (Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean, as well as the EU Outermost regions marine areas).
• Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that include cooperation and transfer of results between and/or among sea basins.
• Proposals can focus on a part/sub-region of these sea basins/areas.
• Activities should normally relate to the EU waters, but may extend into neighbouring waters, if this is necessary for the implementation of the projects (in view of their nature and their objectives) and in particular where cross-border MSP cooperation requires third country involvement in the given sea basin.