Study on ownership and exclusive rights of fisheries means of production

There is a widespread perception of the EU fishing fleet being owned by a multitude of local, single-vessel owners. However, anecdotal information about acquisitions of EU fishing firms by operators from other Member States or third countries (non-EU) shows that this perception is a simplification of a complex reality, characterised by multi-vessel firms that in some cases are foreign-owned. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of who benefits from quotas and hence from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), including from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). It will also provide valuable information on the impact assessment that will accompany a possible successor funding programme in support of the CFP. The call for tenders is based on Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund2 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and, in particular, on the Commission Implementing Decision of 11.12.2015 concerning the adoption of the work programme for 2016 and the financing decision for the implementation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, C(2015) 8729 final 3.