Programme for the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027

Lithuania - Programme for the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
2021-2027 

Total allocation – EUR 87 405 110
EU contribution – EUR 61 183 577

The Lithuanian EMFAF programme will support an ambitious plan to increase production in aquaculture by 20%, support climate change adaptation and mitigation investments (at least 25 % of renewable energy in aquaculture production). The sustainability of the fisheries sector is under pressure due to the dire situation of key stocks in the Baltic Sea. In that respect, temporary and permanent cessation (up to 10% GT reduction by 2030) are planned together with other conservation actions. Other types of actions in support of the fleet include support to engine replacement increasing decarbonisation, investments on board on selectivity, health and safety, investments in port facilities and diversification of activities for fishers.
Lithuania expects to set-up 10 to 12 Local Action Groups with a focus on business development in blue economy sectors, including blue biotechnology, renewable energy, supporting tourism and other services to diversify income sources from fisheries and aquaculture.
All four Horizontal Enabling Conditions are considered fulfilled for the EMFAF programme.
The Lithuanian authorities have confirmed that they do not plan to make use of the EMFAF crisis mechanism to mitigate the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine but nevertheless included the provision in the revised programme should Lithuania wish to mobilise this type of action at a later stage.

Contribution to EU horizontal priorities:
Resilience: The Lithuanian programme incorporates aspects related to resilience such as cooperation between science and fishermen, investment in innovations, investments in energy efficiency, temporary cessation for conservation measures and investment to improve working conditions in fisheries and aquaculture. The programme will also focus on improving the value of fishery and aquaculture products along the value chain, as well as supporting producer organisations. The programme also promotes the development of a sustainable blue economy along the Lithuanian coast with support to diversification of income sources in the framework of CLLD.
Green transition: The challenges for a green transition are correctly addressed in the strategy, the identification of needs and the description of the types of actions. The programme focuses on the reduction of the impact of fishing on the ecosystems and takes into account the challenges of climate change by addressing the renewable energy use in the aquaculture sector where the target is for aquaculture enterprises to use at least 25 % of renewable energy by 2030. Green transition goals are also established for the fishing sector with the intention where possible to replace engines with more efficient and greener ones.
Digital transition: The Lithuanian programme supports digitalisation across all priorities, especially in areas related to fisheries control and data collection. There is also emphasis to support digitalisation in productive investment in aquaculture and in improving the traceability along the value chain.
Added value of public investment: The programme aims at promoting long term improvement of the sector by increasing the added value of the EMFAF support to the Lithuanian fisheries and aquaculture sectors. No financial instruments are planned yet but an assessment for their use in aquaculture and processing is underway.