3.4 million Euros to support investments for sustainable development of aquaculture in the field of productive investments - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas

The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Fisheries, informs that applications are now open for the Support Scheme for the Sustainable Development of Aquaculture in the Field of Productive Investments, as part of the Mar 2030 Programme of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

The support scheme aims to improve the economic and environmental performance of aquaculture companies, as a decisive contribution to increasing aquaculture production. It endeavours to guarantee sustainability and food safety, as set out in Strategic Goal 4 of the National Strategy for the Sea 2021-2030 and aligned with the Strategic Plan for Portuguese Aquaculture 2021-2030.

The overall budget is set at 3.4 million Euros, co-financed by EMFAF.

The applications now published are included in Notice No. MAR2030-2024-78, covering priority 2 "Promoting sustainable aquaculture activities and the processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, thus contributing to food safety in the European Union"; specific goal 2.1 "Promoting sustainable aquaculture activities, namely by boosting the competitiveness of aquaculture production, while ensuring that these activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term."

Applications may be submitted continuously until 2027 and should be made through Balcão dos Fundos at https://balcaofundosue.pt/. The notice will be published on the Portugal 2030 portal, www.portugal2030.pt/, the Mar 2030 portal, www.mar2030.pt, and the Regional Directorate for Fisheries portal at https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/drp/mar-2030. 

This support scheme is in line with the priorities of the Regional Government, as stipulated in the Programme of the XIV Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, namely the continued development of the strategy for the local and international promotion of aquaculture in the Azores to reduce pressure on fishing resources and restore ecosystems.