Commission presents fisheries operational programme for Cyprus

The European Commission made a detailed presentation on Friday of the operational programme ”Fisheries” for the period 2007-2013 for Cyprus, which was approved on 19 December 2007.
The total eligible public expenditure of the programme amounts to 39,448,836 euros, of which 50% will be covered through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).
The Commission has announced that during the period 2004-2006, Cyprus benefited from EU support under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), amounting to 3,419,073 euros. As a result, a relatively large number of projects received financial support. The capacity of the fishing fleet was reduced by 560 GT (2,515 KW), twelve new investments in aquaculture were co-financed, fishing shelters were improved and seven investments in the processing industry also received support.
The new EU programme for 2007-2013 aims to build on the success of the previous programme and consolidate the preconditions for a viable fisheries and aquaculture sector that respects nature and meets the demands of consumers and the food industry.
The five priority axes concern the adaptation of the fishing fleet with a budget of 4,400,000 euros, aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products with a budget of 6,500,000 euros, measures of common interest with 25,848,836 euros, sustainable development of fisheries areas with 2,000,000 euros, and technical assistance with 700,000 euros.