The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition, with co-financing from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), allocates 5.1 million euros to support 47 new projects that strengthen the sustainability of fishing and aquaculture activities in our country. The aim of these initiatives is to strengthen environmental innovation in fisheries and aquaculture activities, encourage networking and support the provision of environmental advisory services, help protect the marine Natura 2000 Network, reduce the amount of waste present at sea and support environmental awareness
The projects, which will be carried out over the next 12 months, will allow, among other issues, to deepen the reduction of by-catches derived from fishing activities of species such as the harbour porpoise or the bottlenose dolphin; to make fishing compatible with the conservation of different species of birds such as the shag; improving the survival of discards and their use; to improve the collection of oceanographic data through multiparametric underwater observatories; recover deep-sea gorgonians in Marine Protected Areas; reducing the impact of trammel on benthic habitats; monitoring waste from coastal areas and working on its removal from the sea; prevent ghost fishing and promote its valorization; to deepen the reproduction strategies of sea nettles and sea urchins and to delve into integral polyculture systems; to promote environmental awareness and the promotion of marine culture and the blue economy.
To this end, a total of 37 entities will develop the 47 new projects selected, with the collaboration of a wide spectrum of agents and entities, including research centres and universities, responsible for 53% of the projects, followed by non-profit organisations, which will be responsible for the implementation of 25% of the projects, and sectoral organisations with the remaining 22%.
To date, the Pleamar Programme has made it possible, with the help of the EMFF, to co-finance a total of 134 projects, with a contribution of more than 13.5 million euros, collaborating with 61 organisations from different fields. This initiative is part of the Spanish Operational Programme of the EMFF for the period 2014-2020 and is closely linked to the LIFE Intemares project, which aims to achieve a consolidated network of marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network managed in an effective and integrated way, with the active participation of the sectors involved and with research as a basic tool for decision-making. In the three calls resolved to date within the Pleamar Programme, more than 80% of the selected projects have some degree of link with the Life Intemares project.
High Tide Program
The Pleamar Program of the Ministry for Ecological Transition is an initiative of the Biodiversity Foundation, to support the sustainability of the Spanish fishing and aquaculture sector, in the context of the blue economy. Thanks to this Programme, projects aimed at the protection and recovery of marine biodiversity are promoted; the reduction and management of waste and garbage at sea; the improvement of knowledge and management of Spanish Marine Protected Areas, with a special focus on the Natura 2000 Network; the reduction of by-catches and the use of discards, and the strengthening of collaboration between the scientific community and the fisheries and aquaculture sector, among others.
The Biodiversity Foundation seeks, within the framework of this Programme, to forge new alliances with those public and private organisations and institutions that share its commitment to the protection of natural heritage and biodiversity, especially in the marine environment.
The Pleamar Programme, co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, will mobilise around 27 million euros through the publication of calls for subsidies in competitive competition.
