Consultation Responses

Reopening of the Fund for Fishing Harbors under the EU Fisheries Fund

A request from Danish Ports to Minister of the Environment and Food Eva Kjer Hansen regarding funding for storm protection and access improvements in fishing ports under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). Storm Gorm on November 29–30, 2015, like its predecessor Bodil, wreaked havoc in several ports, many of which now face major tasks involving cleanup, repair of damaged infrastructure and facilities, and plans for future protection against storm surges and flooding. Thorsminde, Hvide Sande, and Thyborøn were particularly hard-hit by both storms. All three ports are located in the geographic area that the Storm Council designated on December 1, 2015, as being at risk of storm surges. Need for Investment in Access and Storm Protection The fishing industry is a vital source of jobs and tax revenue in fishing communities. The fishing industry depends on modern infrastructure in the ports. Not only as landing sites, but also to a large extent as calm and safe harbor basins with covered docks, loading and unloading equipment, ice-making facilities, good working conditions, refrigeration systems, and warehouses. Access to fisheries development funds through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) has previously helped secure investments in access facilities at fishing ports. This type of investment has been removed from the existing 2015–2017 development program under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). Applications for the current development program for fishing ports and landing sites under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) opened in early summer 2015. The total funding pool received additional national and EU funds, bringing the total to 36.5 million DKK for 2015–2017. Grants may not exceed 3.7 million DKK per project. Applications have been submitted for just over 20 million DKK, meaning that 16 million DKK remains unspent, of which 3.8 million DKK is EU funding. One explanation for the few applications is that the ports are focusing on larger development projects than the fund’s narrow focus on landing obligations and minor facility improvements allows. Launch of a new fund with remaining funds for access conditions and storm protection This is where storm surges come into the picture. In particular, the ports’ access conditions and calm harbor basins are essential for retaining and attracting landings—and thus raw materials—for local industry. Danish Ports therefore requests that the minister take the initiative to establish a new fund using the remaining funds from the fishing ports’ fund, earmarked for grants to invest in port access conditions. The same could apply to other residual or unspent funds under the current program. It is worth noting that the ports themselves cover 50 percent of the total eligible project costs. For example, an investment in storm surge protection in a small port like Thorsminde is estimated to cost approximately 11 million DKK. This is a costly undertaking that challenges the port’s financial sustainability. On the other hand, if the port does not invest, it will also lose its home-port vessels, as shipowners naturally do not want to risk further damage due to storm surges. Funding from the EHFF will serve as an investment safeguard. Investments in access infrastructure are, by nature, more extensive in terms of both investment, project planning, and administration. Therefore, it is essential that ample time be set aside to put projects out to bid. Danske Havne recommends that a new funding pool be announced and communicated to the fishing ports at least six months before the pool opens for applications. Danske Havne is happy to contribute to a more detailed discussion and looks forward to the minister’s response. For further information, please contact Bjarne Løf Henriksen, Business Policy Consultant for Danske Havne, by email at blh@danskehavne.dk or by phone at +45 2116 4045.