The EFF has a budget of €4.3 billion for 2007-2013. Funding is available for all sectors of the industry – sea and inland fishing, aquaculture (the farming of fish, shellfish and aquatic plants), and processing and marketing of fisheries products. Particular attention is given to fishing communities most affected by recent changes in the industry.

Projects are funded on the basis of strategic plans and operational programmes drawn up by national authorities. There are five priority areas (axes) for EFF funding:

• adjustment of the fleet (e.g. to support scrapping of fishing vessels)
• aquaculture, processing and marketing, and inland fishing (e.g. to support the shift to more environmentally friendly production methods)
• measures of common interest (e.g. to improve product traceability or labelling)
• sustainable development of fisheries areas (e.g. to support diversification of the local economy)
• technical assistance to finance the administration of the fund.

Further reading:

• How to apply
• National strategic plans – European fisheries fund (EFF)
• Operational programmes
• Fact sheet on European fisheries fund
• Synthesis of the ex-ante evaluations attached to the EMFF operational programmes (2017)

Official documents

• Report from the Commission - Eighth annual report on implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (2014), COM(2015) 662 final
  • SWD(2015) 295 final
• COMMISSION DECISION of 6.10.2015 amending Decision C(2013) 4879 on the approval of the guidelines on the closure of operational programmes adopted for assistance from the European Fisheries Fund (2007-2013)  - Annexes
• Report from the Commission - Seventh annual report on implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (2013), COM(2014) 738 final
  • SWD(2014) 352 final
• Regulation (EU) No 335/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund, as regards certain provisions relating to financial management for certain Member States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability
• Report from the Commission - Sixth annual report on implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (2012), COM(2013) 921 final
  • SWD(2013) 533 final
• Report from the Commission - Fifth annual report on implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (2011), COM(2012) 747 final
  • SWD(2012) 424 final
• Report from the Commission - Fourth annual report on implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (2010), COM(2011) 927 final
  • SEC(2011) 1620
• Report from the Commission - Third annual report on implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (2009), COM(2011) 37 final
  • SEC(2011) 139 final
• Report from the Commission - Second annual report on implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (2008), COM/2009/0696 final
  • SEC(2009)1714
• Report from the Commission - Annual report on implementation of the european fisheries fund (2007), COM/2009/6
• Working paper on ex-ante evaluation for the EFF
• Working paper on indicators for monitoring and evaluation: a practical guide for the EFF

Axis 4

• Portuguese “Basket of the Sea” links fishermen directly to consumers
• Videos presenting projects managed by Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) using Axis 4 funds of the European Fisheries Fund
• Sustainable development of fisheries areas: guide for the application of axis 4 of the EFF
• Implementing axis 4 of the EFF: some useful questions and suggestions