Consultation
Public Consultation on the Draft Seafood Development Programme 2021-27 – Ireland’s programme under the EMFAF
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (the 'EMFAF') supports the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. Building on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020, it provides supports to achieve food security through the supply of seafood products, growth of a sustainable blue economy and healthy, safe and sustainably managed seas and oceans.
The EMFAF which runs up until 2027 succeeds the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020 which saw €240 million invested in Ireland’s Seafood and Marine sector. Potential funding of up to €258.4 million is available for the new programme including a €134 million EU contribution and a Government contribution of €116 million, representing an increase in funding over the previous EMFF Programme 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 (October 2021), 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 details the vision and key missions to be achieved by the implementation of the programme. It also demonstrates how the strategic objectives of the EMFAF fund (specified in Regulation (EU) 2021/1139) will be employed in fulfilling the Programme.
The Programme aims to support a diverse range of activities within the marine area. For fisheries, the Programme 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, the Programme 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.
The Programme 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 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.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been carried out which aims to identify where there are potential significant effects as a result of carrying out the programme and how any negative effects might be mitigated.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is inviting submissions from stakeholders on the draft programme and its draft SEA Environmental report and Natura Impact Statement to further inform its development, prior to its submission to the Government of Ireland for approval and the European Commission for adoption.
Draft Seafood Development Programme 2021-27 – Ireland’s programme under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
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Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report
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Written submissions are invited from interested parties by the closing date of 4pm on Friday 26 August 2022 at 4pm.
Written submissions may be sent by email to emfaf@agriculture.gov.ie
Or
Posted to the following address:
Marine Programmes Division
Address:
Department of Agriculture Food & Marine, National Seafood Centre, Clonakilty. Co. Cork,
, P85 TX47
Please mark your submissions
“EMFAF Operational Programme”
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is collecting this data to inform the EMFAF Operational Programme 2020-2027 and its Strategic Environmental Assessment. All submissions, including the name of the person or organisation making the submission, may be shared with our external consultants who are conducting the , Strategic Environmental Assessment and appropriate assessment on our behalf. All submissions, including the name of the person or organisation making the submission, will be published on the Department’s website, however, if you wish to make a submission but not be identified publicly this can be accommodated provided it is clearly indicated when the submission is made. When making a submission please indicate if you agree, or not, to your name being published on the Departments website. Should you wish to later withdraw this given consent then please email us at:
All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation. Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is collecting this data to inform the EMFAF Operational Programme 2020-2027 and its Strategic Environmental Assessment. All submissions, including the name of the person or organisation making the submission, may be shared with our external consultants who are conducting the ex-ante assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment on our behalf. This data will be processed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR EU 2016/679), the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018, the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and the DPER Consultation Principles and Guidance. Any additional personal data received as part of your submission will not be processed, shared, or retained and will be destroyed upon receipt. Publication to the Department’s website of personal data associated with submissions will only take place where permission is received to do this.
Further information on Data Protection can be found on our website.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy and employs appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information from unauthorised access. The Department will not process your personal data for any purpose other than that for which they were collected. Personal data may be exchanged with other Government Departments, local authorities, agencies under the aegis of the Department, or other public bodies, in certain circumstances where this is provided for by law.
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