Starting today, the submission of project proposals aimed at investments to mitigate damages caused by fish-eating species in aquaculture farms is officially open. This initiative was formally announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Procedure BG14MFPR001-2.014, titled "Non-productive investments in farms related to the implementation of direct conservation actions to limit the conflict between fish-eating species and aquaculture," is being implemented under the Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (MAFAP) for the 2021–2027 programming period. The main goal of this financial support is to assist aquaculture farms in preventing damages by applying specialized measures that neither harm wildlife nor the farmed species themselves.

Approved investments can be directed toward the following areas:

  • Construction of protective facilities for farms.
  • Implementation of equipment for effectively driving away or repelling fish-eating species.
  • Creation of shelters and refuges for fish that have no negative impact on wild animals.

The total budget allocated for this procedure amounts to 361 603,83 EUR, with the ceiling for grant financial assistance for a single project set at up to 102 258,38 EUR. The intensity of the support is differentiated: micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are eligible for funding of up to 60 percent of eligible costs, while for enterprises not falling into this category, the financial aid is limited to 50 percent.

The application process is organized into two separate stages. The deadline for submitting project proposals for the first intake is 5:00 PM on November 26, 2026, and the second stage concludes at 5:00 PM on January 26, 2027. The submission of documents is conducted entirely electronically through the Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Funds under Shared Management (ISUN), "E-application" module, and the use of a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is mandatory.

BTA recalls that on August 20, the submission of projects began under another measure of the Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme 2021–2027, namely "Permanent cessation of fishing activities." This procedure focuses on reducing the fleet through the scrapping of fishing vessels that belong to unbalanced segments.