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European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund; application for funding

The Free State of Bavaria supports investments in commercial pond farming and fishing from its own funds and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF 2023-2027).

Online services

Online services

  • Serviceportal iBALIS

    iBALIS is the service portal of the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism for processing funding measures. With iBALIS you can digitally record, process and submit your applications. You can also obtain comprehensive information on all aspects of funding here.

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Staatliche Führungsakademie für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten - Kompetenzzentrum für Förderprogramme

Staatliche Führungsakademie für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten

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Heinrich-Rockstroh-Str. 10
95615 Marktredwitz

Postal address

Heinrich-Rockstroh-Str. 10

95615 Marktredwitz

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Procedure details

Based on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of all EU member states, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) aims to promote ecologically sustainable, resilient, innovative and competitive aquaculture and fisheries as a contribution to food security. Other funding priorities include the processing and marketing of fishery products, in particular through the optimization of regional value chains and the development of fishing regions with local strategies to strengthen rural areas.
The following are eligible to apply
  • Fishing and aquaculture businesses that operate fishing / pond farming / aquaculture for commercial purposes,
  • Companies involved in the treatment and processing of fish products,
  • Associations and organizations as well as public institutions active in the field of aquaculture and fisheries.
Eligible projects are
  • in the field of aquaculture and pond farming, including conversion to organic carp pond farming,
  • commercial inland fishing (river and lake fishermen),
  • the processing and marketing of fish products
  • in the so-called fishing areas.
Funding
  • The funding rate is generally 50%. Higher funding rates are possible for projects carried out by public institutions, collective beneficiaries or young entrepreneurs. The same applies to fencing measures to keep out otters.
  • As a rule, the grant is limited to a maximum total grant of EUR 400,000 per beneficiary. This upper limit can only be used once in the EMFAF.
  • Projects whose eligible expenditure is below the de minimis limit cannot be funded.
  • Applicants who have been convicted of fraud under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) or the EMFAF are not eligible for funding.
  • Applicants who have committed environmental crimes in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of Directive 2008/99/EC must be temporarily excluded from funding in the aquaculture sector.

The promotion of a project requires that the economic viability of the project appears to be assured. Suitable documents must be submitted for the assessment, which also show that the sales volumes are achievable in the long term. The following cases are excluded from this:

  • Investments relating to animal health, animal welfare
    and animal protection, including preventive measures
    to protect against fish-eating wild animals
  • Investments that improve safety, hygiene, health and working conditions
  • Projects to improve water supply and water treatment

  • The following documents may need to be submitted with the funding application:
    • Proof of eligibility to apply (proof of acreage or sales receipts, income and surplus statement, documents from the Fischerzeugerring)
    • Detailed list of planned investments with offers or well-founded cost estimate (e.g. according to DIN 276)
    • Simple self-declaration of the company size (SME) of the declaration by an auditor (e.g. tax consultant, auditor)
    • Offers / cost estimate / market survey if applicable (form under "Attachments to the online application" in the links below)
    • Confirmation of equity/credit balance from the bank if more than EUR 50,000 equity is planned
    • Declaration of willingness to lend (if financing by loan)
    • For companies/clubs/associations: Articles of association, extract from the commercial register, articles of association
    • For projects over EUR 250,000: Economic appraisal by an independent, qualified body

    • For pond construction projects:

      • Digitized proof of area
      • Statement from the lower nature conservation authority (for existing ponds)
      • Statement from the fisheries advisory service if total costs exceed € 50,000
      • For new pond construction: water law permit

    • If necessary, statement from specialist authorities (form under "Attachments to the online application" in the links below)

    • For structural investments, incl. new pond construction

      • Site plan (scale at least 1:5000) for the project
      • Construction documents (construction plan, building permit, water law permit; if applicable, area and space calculation according to DIN 277 and cost calculation according to DIN 276)
      • For construction measures not requiring a permit (incl. fences against otters): copy of the building notification to the lower nature conservation authority of the municipality or district administrative authority

    • For vehicles: Proof of production volume over the last 3 years (area, quantity produced)

    • For recirculation systems: Statement from the Institute of Fisheries, Starnberg

    • For newly established aquaculture businesses:

      • Proof of appropriate professional qualification
      • Conclusive operating concept (see sample structure under "Annexes to the online application" in the links below)

    • For investments in marketing:

      • Project description with a description of the planned turnover from regional fish/fishery products and non-fish products or non-regional fish/fishery products
      • Proof of previous turnover and its distribution (accounting or other suitable documents; if necessary, proof from a tax consultant)

    • Plans for diversification

      • Business plan/operating concept for the new activity
      • Proof that the project is not supported by other programs (diversification support for agriculture; business development).

Applications for funding under the EMFAF can only be submitted electronically via iBALIS-Online. This requires a 10-digit farm number (available from the responsible Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry - AELF) and the access data for iBALIS. If not already available, the latter can be obtained from the Landeskuratorium der Erzeugerringe für tierische Veredelung in Bayern e.V. (LKV), stating the farm number.

Status: 08.07.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft, Forsten und Tourismus
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