Resources and Guides

The European Commission has published a complete and easy to access guide for actors in the fishing or aquaculture industry looking for support to the green transition. 

Organisations and businesses in the fishing and aquaculture sectors are under pressure to phase out their dependence on fossil fuels. By doing so, they will not only make a valuable contribution to the overarching objectives of the European Green Deal, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, but they will also be making positive changes that will enhance the sectors’ financial viability and resilience.

The Guide on Financing opportunities for the Green Energy Transition of Fisheries and Aquaculture helps users understand the many funding opportunities that are available. It caters to a wide range of businesses and organisations, including small and large-sized enterprises, public administrations, research institutions, and civil society organisations seeking EU funding for their energy transition projects. It covers a spectrum of areas of support, including innovations for vessels, improvements in energy-efficient gear and equipment, and energy management enhancements for aquaculture. It also covers industry-related infrastructure transformations that can help reduce carbon emissions, as well as training and capacity-building that can help ensure a fair and competitive transition.

The European Commission has published several other guides on funding that can provide valuable information for preparing Mission projects. Among these are a EU guide to EU funding for environmental projects and a guide for local and regional authorities to finance biodiversity protection. A guide on crowdfunding for SMEs provides practical ideas for small businesses launching new projects.

The Mission Ocean and Waters has supported CSAs in each lighthouse basin, and these projects have prepared guides and other resources on funding.

PREP4BLUE has published a series of factsheets on key funding sources, covering: cascade financing, concessional and blended finance, crowdfunding, grants and donations, pre-commercial procurement and public procurement of innovative solutions, and equity and debt financing. 

For further information on funding and business models for Mission projects, see PREP4BLUE’s case studies on interactions with the business community, its report on business models and the follow-up reports on scaling up solutions beyond 2025 and business interaction models. You can also use PREP4BLUE’s Helpdesk, a digital tool to assist stakeholders with accessing support, guidance, and relevant funding information.

BlueMissionAA, for the Atlantic and Arctic, has prepared a Roadmap and recommendations for training and transfer activities to market.

BlueMissionBANOS, for the Baltic and North Seas, has discussed funding in its Mission ‘Arenas’. See for example the presentations on Viable and scalable business models: Business for Blue Good and on Viable business models for a sustainable blue economy: how can we improve interaction between research, public sector and the business community.

EcoDaLLi works in the Danube River and  Black Sea basin. The project’s online portal provides a database of basin innovations, including actors providing funding. 

BlueMissionMed, for the Mediterranean Sea, has a support programme providing technical assistance to stakeholders, including on accessing funding.

Some Mission projects may be able to tap financial instruments such as blue bonds and carbon credits. To learn more about these instruments, including the types of beneficiaries and investors that can use them, click here for more information. 

Stakeholders working for the EU’s ocean and waters can learn more by joining the Mission Community. Consider the following steps:

• Join the Mission Charter 
• Follow the Mission News & Events
• Learn about the issues and needs in your Lighthouse

Discover the innovative solutions developed by existing Mission projects.