Description of each Priority Axis (for more information about each Measure please refer to the Operational Programme – CLICK HERE)
PRIORITY AXIS 1: MEASURES FOR THE ADAPTATION OF THE COMMUNITY FISHING FLEET
Measure 1.1: Public aid for permanent cessation of fishing activities
The EFF shall contribute to financing of the permanent cessation of fishing activities of fishing vessels.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are legal and natural persons who are registered as owners of a fishing vessel and have a valid licence for commercial fishing in the A or B categories of the Malta fishing register at the time of application.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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The complete scrapping of a fishing vessel with deletion of the relative fishing capacity related to the vessel from the Malta fishing vessel register. Both fishing rights and vessel will be compensated. Direct reference is made to Art 4(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) 498/2007 whereby scrapping of the vessel means there will be a permanent cancelling of the related fishing licence and the permanent deletion of the vessel from the Community fleet register.
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The reassignment of the vessel under the flag of a Member State and registered in the Community for activities outside fishing with deletion of the relative fishing capacity related to the vessel from the Malta fishing vessel register. Only fishing rights will be compensated.
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The reassignment of the vessel for the purpose of the creation of artificial reefs with deletion of the relative fishing capacity related to the vessel from the Malta and the Community fishing vessel register. Both fishing rights and vessel will be compensated. Direct reference is made to Art 23 1 (c) of Council Regulation (EC) 1198/2006, whereby Member States shall ensure that any such operation as described above will be preceded by an environmental impact assessment.
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Information and publicity actions relating to actions taken under this measure.
As per Art 23.2 of the EFF Regulation, the permanent cessation of fishing activities of fishing vessels shall be programmed in the form of national decommissioning schemes which shall not exceed two years from the date of entry into force.
Measure 1.2: Public aid for temporary cessation of fishing activities
The EFF shall contribute to the financing of aid measures for the temporary cessation of fishing activities for fishers and owners of fishing vessels.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are legal and natural persons who are registered as fishers and / or are owners of a fishing vessel and have a valid licence for commercial fishing at the time of application.
Eligible actions:
The eligible action foreseen by this measure is the full cessation of all fishing effort which is approved / sanctioned by the relevant national authority. A recurrent seasonal suspension of fishing shall not be taken into account for the grant of allowances under this measure.
Measure 1.3: Investments on board fishing vessels and selectivity
The EFF may contribute to the financing of equipment and the modernisation of fishing vessels of five years of age or more.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are legal and natural persons who are registered as fishers and / or are owners of a fishing vessel in the Malta fishing vessel register and have a valid licence for fishing in the A and B categories.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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Investment in equipment that will lead to the achievement of any one or more of the specific objectives listed above.
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To increase mesh sizes and hook sizes for trawl nets, bottom-set nets and long lines in order to avoid further increases in mortality rates for juveniles and to substantially reduce the amount of discards of dead marine organisms by fishing vessels. In this regard, specific reference is made to Art 25.7(b) and 25.8(a) of the EFF Regulation.
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The replacement of an engine per vessel as per the conditions listed in Article 25 (3) of Regulation No 1198/2006.
Measure 1.4: Socio-economic compensation for the management of the Community fishing fleet
The EFF may contribute to the financing of socio-economic measures proposed by Member States for fishers affected by developments in fishing.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are legal and natural persons with residence in Malta and who are registered as fishers and / or are owners of a fishing vessel in the Malta fishing vessel register and have a valid licence for fishing in the A and B categories.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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The provision of training to upgrade the professional skills for fishers and for young fishers in particular
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The provision of training to fishers in occupations outside sea fishing
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A non-renewable compensation to fishers as per Article 27 (1) (e) of Regulation 1198/2006
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The payment of a premium to fishers younger than 40 years as per Article 27 (2)
PRIORITY AXIS 2: AQUACULTURE, PROCESSING AND MARKETING OF FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS
Aquaculture
Measure 2.1: Productive investments in aquaculture
The EFF may support investments in the construction, extension, procurement of equipment and modernisation of production installations, in particular with a view to improving working conditions, hygiene, human or animal health and product quality, reducing negative environmental impact or enhancing positive effects on the environment.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC that are legal and natural persons registered with the relevant authorities for aquaculture activities in Malta. Additional points will be awarded for applicants that fall within the definition of micro and small-sized enterprises.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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Investment in new equipment aimed at modernizing current establishments as well as enhancing security.
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Investment in the construction of a land-based hatchery.
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Investment in the construction of new establishments and the required equipment.
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Investment in new equipment aimed at mitigating any possible negative impacts of aquaculture operations.
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Investment in the development and commercialisation of new species.
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Investment in the development and implementation of new aquaculture methods aimed at reducing environmental impact.
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Spatial planning/mapping of aquaculture sites.
Measure 2.2: Aqua-environmental measures
The EFF can support granting compensation for the use of aquaculture production methods that help to protect and improve the environment and to conserve nature.
Beneficiaries:
The only beneficiaries of this measure are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC that are legal and natural persons registered with the relevant authorities for aquaculture activities in Malta.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
Measure 2.3: Investments in processing and marketing
The EFF may support investments in processing and marketing of fisheries and aquaculture products.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC that are legal and natural persons registered with the relevant authorities for aquaculture activities in Malta. Additional points will be awarded for applicants that fall within the definition of micro and small-sized enterprises.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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Investment in facilities and equipment including both hardware and software with the aim of achieving one or more of the objectives as per Article 35 (1) of the EFF Regulation.
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Investment in refrigeration vehicles and other refrigeration equipment necessary for the operations of enterprises operating at wholesale level.
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Investment in health, hygiene and safety measures.
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Investment in the marketing of products originating from local landings and aquaculture.
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Investment in the development of brand names for local products.
PRIORITY AXIS 3: MEASURES OF COMMON INTEREST
Measure 3.1: Fishing ports, landing sites and shelters
The EFF can support investments in existing public or private fishing ports with the aim of improving the services offered.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are Public Sector bodies, Producer Organisations and other recognised organisations concerned exclusively with fisheries and aquaculture and are recognised and registered in Malta.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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The restructuring and development of port infrastructure necessary for the functioning of the fisheries industry.
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The development of infrastructure within ports necessary for the proper landing and storage of fish.
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The relocation of fish markets.
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The introduction / improvement of software and hardware to be used for the organisation of the fish markets.
Measure 3.2: Development of new markets and promotional campaigns
The EFF can support measures of common interest intended to implement a policy of quality and value enhancement, development of new markets or promotional campaigns for fisheries and aquaculture products.
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries of this measure are Producer Organisations and other recognised organisations concerned with fisheries and aquaculture that are recognised and registered with the relevant authorities in Malta, or any other Local Council or NGO with a demonstrable interest in fisheries
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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The design and implementation of promotional campaigns aimed at enhancing the knowledge about the benefits of consuming fish.
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The design and implementation of promotional campaigns aimed at enhancing the demand for currently underutilised fish and aquaculture species.
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The design and implementation of promotional campaigns aimed at promoting fish and aquaculture products obtained using environmentally friendly methods.
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The carrying out of market surveys.
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The organisation of fish fairs, festivals and exhibitions.
PRIORITY AXIS 5: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiary is the Operational Programme Managing Authority.
Eligible actions:
The actions that are eligible under this measure are:
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Increasing and improving the administrative capacity for the implementation and the management of the OP.
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All actions relating to the administration, management and implementation of the OP.
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All actions relating to the dissemination of information on the implementation of the OP.
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All actions relating to the meeting of publicity obligations of the OP.