Developing the fisheries sector in the area

The operational Programme for the Fisheries Industry in the Coastal Regions of the Bothnian Bay 2008-2013, i.e. the Fishery Programme, is one of the seven regional funding programmes for the development of the fisheries sector in Finland. The purpose of the programme is to activate regional and local actors to find new operational models or practical solutions for the development of their own operations and the fisheries industry in their region.The programme includes 16 municipalities within the area between Kokkola-Tornio and Pyhäjärvi. The amount of funding directed through the programme is EUR 300,000/year.

The objectives of the programme are:

• increasing the profitability of fishing
• developing fishing tourism
• promoting part-time fishing

The target groups:

• Fishers registered in the Central Fisheries Register System
• Enterprises and organisations which operations include fishers registered in the Central Fisheries Register System
• Enterprises in the fish processing, fish farming and fishing tourism industries

Levels of funding granted from the Fishery Programme:

• Preliminary assessment projects, 80-100 %
• Educational projects, 90-100 %
• Development projects: Non-profit organisations/municipalities, 80-90 % and Enterprises, max. 60 %

The fishery group

The implementation of the fishery programme is steered by the Fishery Group, which has 13 members. The members represent the fisheries nad fishing tourism industries, municipalities and local action groups. The steering group assesses the project applications submitted to it and directs financial support to the eligible projects from the European Fisheries Fund.