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| Photo courtesy of Lionel Flageul/Le Marin |
The Brittany Region is opening an online platform for submitting applications for installation aid for young fishermen to buy a second-hand boat intended for a Breton port. As part of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (Feampa), fishermen aged 40 and under can file their application there and apply for aid of up to €75,000 for a first boat under 12 meters and €100,000 beyond.
Fisheries are vital to the livelihoods and cultural heritage of many coastal communities in the European Union. The average age of many fishing communities is over 50 years old and it is estimated that in France around 5,000 sailors should retire between 2020 and 2030, even though the number of fishermen has already fallen by 8% between 2011 and 2016 at the national level. The renewal of generations remains a challenge, however, due to the low attractiveness of the profession and the very high cost of acquiring work tools, even though it is essential for the sustainability and competitiveness of the fishing in Brittany, the leading French region in terms of the number of ships, sailors and in terms of the landing of fishery products.
Consequently, the Brittany Regional Council considers it a priority to provide young fishermen with support to facilitate their installation, by creating a fishing business.
This is the result of an issue of food sovereignty, in the post-Brexit context, while in France, 5,000 sailors should retire by 2030.