Description of the action
This Action concerns the inelastic obligation of professional fishermen and fishing vessel owners to bring operational electronic devices for satellite tracking and transmission of data (VMS)-ERS and AIS to their vessels, on a case by case basis. This obligation arises from the Community institutional framework. The action of the operational programme entails the “Development, purchase and installation of the necessary components, including hardware and software, to ensure the transmission of data by bodies involved in fisheries and the marketing of fishery products to both national and EU authorities, including the necessary elements of the electronic information recording and reporting systems (ERS), satellite tracking devices (VMS) and automatic identification systems (AIS)”.
Objective of the action
In order to ensure the effective control of fishing activities, certain means are used to fully cover the “route” of the catches from fishing to consumption. The aim of the Action is to provide these means, so that controls can be carried out to a high standard and so as to ensure compliance with CFP regulations.
Total budget and allocation
The total Public Expenditure that will be allocated through this Action amounts to a minimum of three million euro (€3,000,000). The programme is co-funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of the European Union and by national contribution.
Financial aid beneficiaries
- Natural or legal persons, owners (according to the definitions of Reg. 508/2014) of fishing vessels, who practice fishing professionally on an active fishing vessel (valid professional fishing license). The vessels for which owners will receive aid must be registered in the Greek Ship/Boat Registers and in the National Fisheries Register (EAM), and they must meet all the requirements set out by Community and National legislation on commercial fishing vessels, taking into account any time constraints from the previous funding of the same works when the application was submitted.
- Anyone who equips a fishing vessel holding a valid license with systems for monitoring, recording and reporting information (whether optionally or mandatorily), in the framework of the applicable legislation, in order to meet the conditions for special fishing permits, such as for catching sea cucumbers and Symi shrimp.
Potential beneficiaries
Old obligors-users of the devices are also potential beneficiaries by replacing such old devices, taking into account any time constraints arising from the previous funding.
- Fishermen with professional fishing vessels, which are at least 12 meters.
- Fishermen authorized to fish in international waters.
- Fishermen authorized to fish tuna (BFT) and/or swordfish (SWO) and/or albacore tuna (ALB).
- Fishermen with a purse seine or boat seine (SB) license, under 12 meters in length.
Subsidy terms and conditions
The financial aid will be granted to the beneficiary in the form of a subsidy and the amount will be calculated based on eligible costs. This Action will be applied throughout the territory of Greece, and the aid intensity will vary according to the following:
– the size of the business;
– the location of the beneficiaries of the Operations and whether these are carried out in “remote Greek Islands”;
– whether the beneficiaries and the beneficiary fishing vessels are involved in small-scale coastal fishing.
Funding scheme
The Public Aid and Private Participation rates for the operations that will funded under this Action are formed according to the category under which they fall, as shown below:
Territory of the country | Remote Greek Islands | ||
Micro, small & medium-sized enterprises | Public Aid | 80% | 85% |
Private Participation | 20% | 15% | |
Other enterprises larger than SMEs | Public Aid | 30% | 30% |
Private Participation | 70% | 70% | |
Small-scale coastal fishing, with fishing vessels up to 12 meters in length that do not use towed gear | Public Aid | 90% | 90% |
Private Participation | 10% | 10% |
“Remote Greek Islands” include:
- the islands of the North Aegean Region
- the islands of the South Aegean Region
- Samothrace (R.U. of Evros)
- Thassos (R.U. of Kavala)
- Northern Sporades (R.U. of Magnesia)
- Skyros and Skyropoula (R.U. of Evia)
- Kythira and Antikythira (R.U of Piraeus and Islands)
- Gavdos, Gavdopoula, Paximadia, Chrysi, Koufonisi, Paximada, Dragonada, Dionysades, Dia, Elasa (Region of Crete)
- Othonoi, Ereikousa, Mathraki, Paxoi, Antipaxoi (R.U. of Corfu)
- Strofades (R.U. of Zakynthos)
- Sapientza, Schiza (R.U. of Messinia)
- Echinades (R.U. Kefallinia & Ithaca)
Application procedure
The application for funding must be submitted by potential Beneficiaries electronically through the State Aid Management Information System (PSKE) (www.ependyseis.gr/mis), by using the standardized funding application form in PSKE. It will not be possible to submit a funding application unless all the required fields of the PSKE have been completed.
The Funding Application Form, as well as all accompanying forms of the invitation, can be found at the following websites:
- Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food http://www.alieia.minagric.gr
- Special Management Service of the OP “Fisheries and Sea” https://alieia.gr
- IS S.A. https://www.ktpae.gr
- NSRF https://www.espa.gr