The presentation of the beneficiary entities of the 2017 call for subsidies of the Pleamar Program, an initiative coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, through the Biodiversity Foundation, and for which 3.8 million euros will be allocated this year.

This programme aims to promote projects that strengthen the protection and recovery of marine biodiversity, contribute to reducing and managing marine waste and litter and improve the knowledge and management of Spanish Marine Protected Areas, with a special focus on the Natura 2000 Network. It also seeks to support the fishing sector in two of the biggest challenges it faces, reducing by-catches and advancing in the use of discards, all through innovation, collaboration with the scientific community and fishermen.

In this first call for grants, 43 projects have been selected out of the 83 initially presented, with a total endowment of 3,851,244.64 euros, of which around 64% will be contributed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). The selected projects will have a maximum duration of 12 months.

The Pleamar Programme, which will be developed during the period 2017-2023, contemplates the publication of at least 6 annual calls for subsidies, co-financed by the EMFF, with the publication of a new call expected in the first quarter of 2018.