Aid for investments increasing productivity or positively impacting the environment in aquaculture
Article 33
1. Aid for investments increasing productivity or positively impacting the environment in aquaculture fulfilling the conditions laid down in Chapter I of this Regulation shall be compatible with the internal market within the meaning of Article 107(3), point (c), TFEU and shall be exempted from the notification requirement of Article 108(3) thereof provided that the aid supports: (a) productive investments in aquaculture; (b) diversification of aquaculture production and species cultured; (c) modernisation of aquaculture units, including the improvement in working and safety conditions of aquaculture workers; (d) improvements and modernisation related to animal health and welfare, including the purchase of equipment aiming at protecting the farms from wild predators; (e) investments reducing the negative impact or enhancing the positive effects on the environment and increasing resource efficiency; (f) investments in enhancing the quality of, or in adding value to, aquaculture products; (g) the restoration of existing aquaculture ponds or lagoons through the removal of silt, or investments aimed at the prevention of silt deposits; (h) the diversification of the income of aquaculture undertakings through the development of complementary activities; (i) investments resulting in a substantial reduction in the impact of aquaculture undertakings on water usage and quality, in particular through reducing the amount of water or chemicals, antibiotics and other medicines used, or through improving the output water quality, including through the deployment of multi–trophic aquaculture systems; (j) the promotion of closed aquaculture systems where aquaculture products are farmed in closed recirculation systems, thereby minimising water use; or (k) investments increasing energy efficiency and promoting the conversion of aquaculture undertakings to renewable sources of energy. 2. Aid referred to in paragraph 1, point (h), shall only be granted to aquaculture undertakings if the complementary activities relate to the core aquaculture business of the undertakings, including angling tourism, environmental services related to aquaculture or educational activities concerning aquaculture. 3. Aid referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may be granted for investments that increase production and/ or modernisation of existing aquaculture undertakings, or for the construction of new production capacity, provided that the development is consistent with the plan for the development of aquaculture referred to in Article 34 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. 4. Investments referred to in paragraph (1), point (e), include those related to the use of more sustainable feed, the reduction and management of nutrient release and effluents, the reduction of escapees, the use of chemicals and medicines with lower impact on the environment, the adoption of a circular approach in the management of waste, the disposal of aquaculture gear or the use of biodegradable aquaculture gear to avoid marine litter, the management of predators, and those that make a measurable contribution on the restoration of biodiversity or ecological continuity. 5. The amount of the aid granted under this Article shall not exceed, in gross grant equivalent, a maximum aid intensity rate of 50 % of the eligible costs. Specific maximum aid intensity rates shall be as set out in Annex IV. Where one operation falls under several of the rows 1 to 11 of Annex IV, the highest maximum aid intensity rate shall apply. For operations positively impacting the environment the maximum aid intensity rate shall be 80 % unless a higher aid intensity rate would be applicable with regard to Annex IV.