The programme covers the whole territory of Malta, which falls in its entirety under the Convergence objective.
During 2004-2006, Malta benefited from EU support under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) to the amount of € 2,837,500. The projects co-funded under the FIFG concerned the adjustment and modernisation of the fishing fleet, the development of aquaculture, processing and marketing, as well as the improvement of fishing port facilities.
Examples of successful projects include the establishment of a maintenance and repair facility for fishing vessels and the installation of cold store equipment to improve the quality, and thus increase the value, of fisheries products.
The new EU programme for 2007-2013 aims to build on the achievements of the previous programme and to guarantee necessary continuity of support, to ensure sustainable and competitive fisheries and aquaculture, in balance with available resources and respecting the environment.
It also aims to offer adequate working conditions for operators in the sector and to consolidate conditions for a thriving aquaculture and processing industry that meets the demands of consumers and the food industry.
The money will help to modernise the fishing fleet, as well as to increase the level of training among fishers, the Operational Programme includes measures to adapt fishing effort to the available resources, in particular as regards migratory fish stocks such as blue fin tuna and swordfish.
It will also contribute to the development and sustainability of the aquaculture, processing and marketing sectors. Productive investments in aquaculture will include the modernisation of existing aquaculture facilities and the development of new ones, targeted to rearing new species, as well as the creation of a land-based hatchery. Environmentally friendly aquaculture methods will be particularly encouraged and, given the limited coastline available, so will be methods to achieve a better coastal landscape management.
It will upport measures of common interest with a broader scope than measures normally undertaken by private enterprises and which help meet the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Finally it will support the efficient implementation of the operational programme by building up and reinforcing administrative capacity.
11 Billion Budget for Malta Fisheries
MALTA - The European Commission has approved the Operational Programme for the Maltese Fisheries Industry for the period 2007-2013. The total eligible public expenditure of the programme amounts to 11,163,105, with EU assistance from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) amounting to 8,372,329.
