European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) supports activities investing in coastal and fishing communities, and is implemented in Ireland under the Operational Programme for Ireland.

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund invests €5.7 billion across the European Union, to:

  • Help fishermen transition to sustainable fishing
  • Support coastal communities and help diversify their economies
  • Create jobs and improve the quality of life along European coastlines
  • Make it easier for applicants to access finance

EMFF Operational Programme for Ireland

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Irish Government co-fund the EMFF Operational Programme for Ireland.

239.2 million euro total funding for the Southern and Eastern Programme. 147.6 million euro in funding from the European Union and 91.6 million euro in funding from the Irish Government.

Programme Focus

  • Supporting the development of sustainable fishing.
  • Supporting the aquaculture sector.
  • Investing in data collection and fisheries control to support the common fisheries policy
  • Investing in local development initiatives

The achievement of these objectives is measured using the key performance targets outlined below.

Find more details of projects funded by The Operational Programme for Ireland and news and upcoming events on the Department of Agriculture’s website

EMFF Indicators

Performance Indicator targets for the EMFF Operational Programme for Ireland include: 1,800 jobs created, 2,540 existing jobs maintained, 33,000 tonnes or 23 million euro increase in fisheries production, 45,000 tonnes or 112 million euro increase in aquaculture production and a 85 percent reduction in unwanted catches

Investing in Your Future

The objectives given above are each addressed by one of the investment areas below. Click on the tiles to explore the way that the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and other European Structural and Investment Fund support each of these areas.