Diversification of fisheries activities in the Atlantic area

Topic description

Objective:

The main objective of this topic is to support the diversification of the income sources for fisheries communities in the Atlantic area by promoting activities related to the sustainable blue economy.

This topic will focus on:

• Integration of tourism products and services provided by fishers and fisheries associations into the local/regional/sea basin tourist offers;
• Support fishers and other interested stakeholders, to assess the interest and feasibility to set up new regenerative ocean farms or restore coastal marine ecosystems, including by testing these approaches;
• Promotion of job creation in the field of sustainable blue economy.

Activities that can be funded:

Selected projects should carry out to the maximum extent possible the indicative (not exhaustive) activities listed below:

• Awareness raising and increasing social acceptance by showcasing results of existing projects related to fisheries diversification and benefits derived from them;
• Engaging local stakeholders and communities;
• Coaching, advisory services, mentoring, training for fishers in areas as for example pesca-tourism, eco-tourism, cultural heritage, shellfish and/or regenerative ocean farming, etc.;
• Promoting entrepreneurial activities amongst local fishers, offering the fishers initial training on maritime-coastal cultural and natural heritage or regenerative ocean farming;
• Providing training programmes on sustainability (green skills), digital skills, entrepreneurial and soft (customer service, languages) skills, communication and awareness-raising, tutoring services for new businesses, and the development of series of good practices guides and protocols;
• Matchmaking activities or other forms of support for cooperation among related blue economy SMEs/start-ups and other stakeholders;
• Developing and promoting marketing of coastal-maritime tourism routes including fisheries/aquaculture tourism products/services or demonstrating and test-base innovative methods for regenerative ocean farming, of either local seaweed species or seaweed in combination with shellfish;
• Creating local and regional networks to foster interaction between fisheries communities and economic operators in close cooperation with the local and regional government authorities.

Applicants shall explain in the proposal the added-value of their projects compared to similar actions implemented under national EMFAF Operational Programmes (shared management).

Applicants will describe in their proposals the concrete and measurable results within the duration of the project and their expected impact, including indicators for the monitoring and measurement of progress.

Projects are expected to achieve the following impacts to the maximum extent possible in line with the proposed activities:

• New product/services integrated in the local/regional/sea basin tourism offer;
• New jobs created;
• Set up of new tourist routes including Pesca-tourism and eco-tourism;
• Increased awareness and engagement of coastal stakeholders (including public authorities and tourism offices) in relation to fisheries diversification activities and environmental protection;

And/or

• Proven technical feasibility of regenerative ocean farming;
• Measure and quantify economic and environmental benefits of regenerative farming, including:
  • market potential and job opportunities;
  • the capacity of reversing degradation of ocean ecosystems and restoring their ecological functionality;
• Increased awareness among coastal communities of the opportunities offered by regenerative ocean farming, including social acceptance.

The above list of expected impacts is non-exhaustive and applicants may add others if deemed relevant to achieve the objectives of this topic.