Förderung: Zuschuss für Investitionen in der Aquakultur beantragen

The state grants subsidies for investments in the aquaculture sector in order to improve the competitiveness of aquaculture companies.

What is supported?

The following, for example, can be supported

• productive investments,
• modernization of aquaculture facilities, including the improvement of working and safety conditions for aquaculture workers
• improvements and modernization in relation to animal health and welfare, including the purchase of equipment to protect farms against wild predators,
• investments to reduce the negative impact or increase the positive impact on the environment and increase resource efficiency,
• Investments to increase the quality or added value of aquaculture products, in particular by enabling the company to take over the processing, storage, marketing and direct sale of its products itself; this also includes the purchase of mobile sales equipment for direct marketing,
• rehabilitation of existing fish ponds through desilting or investments to prevent siltation,
• diversifying the income of aquaculture enterprises by developing complementary activities,
• investments that significantly reduce the impact of aquaculture enterprises on water consumption and water quality, in particular by reducing the quantities of water or chemicals, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals used or by improving the quality of effluent water, including through the use of multitrophic aquaculture systems,
• Establishment and further development of aquaculture systems in which aquaculture products are reared in closed recirculation systems to minimize water consumption,
• projects to improve energy efficiency, reduce electricity or thermal energy consumption, switch to renewable energy sources and reduce CO2 emissions from aquaculture facilities, thereby strengthening the resilience of businesses while ensuring the long-term environmental sustainability of these activities, including in particular investments in photovoltaic installations,
• operational projects of aquaculture companies to reduce dependence on veterinary medicines,
• projects to ensure animal health and welfare in aquaculture within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2016/429
• veterinary studies or specialized pharmaceutical studies including the dissemination and exchange of information on best practices for the prevention and control of animal diseases in aquaculture.

Who is eligible for funding?

Funding recipients can be companies of any legal form that carry out investments in the field of aquaculture in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Funding recipients must meet the criteria of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), i.e. they must not have more than 249 employees and an annual turnover of 50 million euros or a balance sheet total of 43 million euros.

How is funding provided?

The funding is made up of funds from the European Community (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund EMFAF) and funds from the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Funding is provided in the form of a grant that does not have to be repaid. The basis of assessment is the eligible expenditure. The eligible expenditure per project must amount to at least EUR 5,000. Projects with more than EUR 34 million are excluded from funding.

Funding rates

• A grant of up to 49 percent can be awarded for investments in aquaculture of up to EUR 2.0 million.
• A grant of up to 30 percent can be awarded on the amount exceeding EUR 2.0 million up to EUR 10.0 million.
• For projects up to EUR 34 million, the subsidy is 0% from EUR 10 million.
• Projects with more than EUR 34 million are excluded from funding.
• The maximum possible grant is therefore EUR 3.38 million per investment project.
• Deviating from this, the maximum possible funding amount for grants for energy efficiency measures (in accordance with No. 3.2.2 j) FischFöRL) is EUR 25,000.
• Planning costs in connection with eligible structural investments can be taken into account within the scope of this funding in the amount of up to 15 percent of the eligible expenditure.

In accordance with the principle of economic efficiency and economy, those measures that fulfill the intended purpose with the least reasonable effort are to be taken as a basis.

• Grant recipients must have their registered office and place of business in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern or provide proof of relocation, carry out investments in the aquaculture sector in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and no insolvency proceedings may have been applied for or opened against them.
• The funded company must not have more than 249 employees and no more than 50 million euros in annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total of no more than 43 million euros.
• The grant recipient must provide evidence of proper management.
• The investment must be an investment for which the grant recipient has not received public funding on its own, as part of its family or as a member of a company within two years prior to submitting the application.
• The managing director or other responsible person of the grant recipient must have sufficient fishing qualifications or corresponding professional fishing experience with regard to the intended investment in aquaculture. Alternatively, a consultancy agreement must have been concluded with an appropriately qualified person or organization.
• Grants are generally only approved for projects that have not yet been started. In principle, the conclusion of a supply or service contract attributable to the execution of the project is to be regarded as the start of the project. The approval authority may grant approval for early commencement of the project upon application.
• The production manager must have professional experience in handling a comparable type of system. Alternatively, a training and consultancy contract must be concluded with a qualified person or organization.
• In the case of a first-time investment in an aquaculture facility, a business plan must be available and, in the case of investment costs of more than EUR 50,000, a feasibility study that includes an environmental assessment of the project. A marketing report drawn up by an independent body must clearly confirm good and sustainable marketing opportunities for the intended product.
• For investments of more than EUR 5.0 million, the profitability calculation and its assumptions must be reviewed by an independent auditor.
• The equity capital for the investment must amount to at least 20 percent of the eligible expenditure.
• For investments of more than EUR 100,000, a positive opinion on the project must be provided by the State Research Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries.
• Contracts are only to be awarded to competent and capable providers in accordance with competitive criteria and on economic terms. The selection of the provider must be documented using the forms provided.
• In the case of funding of 50% or more, public procurement law must be observed.

There are no costs.

An application for funding must be submitted in writing to the granting authority.

90-day period after receipt of the payout request

• The deadline for applications is 31.03.2029.
• The project must be completed by 30.06.2029.

Lawsuit

• Apply for a grant for investments in the aquaculture sector to improve the competitiveness of aquaculture companies.
• Written application for funding
• Responsible granting authority: Ministry of Agriculture Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• Deadlines:
  • The deadline for applications is 31.03.2029.
  • The project must be completed by 30.06.2029.

Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania