European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is now closed (July 2025) and the Scottish Government is now undertaking final closure arrangements.
For all beneficiaries that received a grant award from this Fund, there however remains a liability for the retention of items purchased as part of any grant award, as outlined in your grant award letter.
Durability of Operations
To ensure the effectiveness, fairness and sustainable impact of the intervention of the EMFF scheme, provisions guaranteeing that investments in businesses and infrastructures are long-lasting and prevent European Funding from being used to undue advantage should be in place.
Therefore items purchased using public funding from the EMFF Scheme must be owned and used for their original purpose for a minimum of five years, except where State aid rules provide for a different period or the items are leased.
In the case of a project comprising investment in infrastructure or productive investment, and where the applicant is not a Micro, small or medium enterprise (SME), an applicant will be required to repay the funding contribution from the EMFF if, within 10 years of the final payment to the project, the project or its activity is subject to relocation outside of the European Union.
Some or all of the funding for projects that do not meet the Durability of Operations above will be recovered.
Should you have any queries regarding EMFF or the above information, please contact us at MFS@gov.scot.
Related publications:
- fishing vessel energy improvements and re-engining
- investments on board fishing vessels
- investments to shore-based facilities
- partnerships and advisory services
- support for internal partners
- aquaculture, processing and marketing
- marine environment and inland fishing
- community-led local development
- EMFF e-system user guidance
- EMFF project: survey reports and newsletters