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1. The EMFF may support measures for the temporary cessation of fishing activities in the following cases:

(a) the implementation of Commission measures or Member States emergency measures referred to in Articles 12 and 13, respectively, of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 or of conservation measures referred to in Article 7 of that Regulation, including biological recovery periods;

(b) a non‐renewal of Sustainable fisheries partnership agreements or protocols thereto;

(c) where the temporary cessation of fishing activities is provided for in a management plan adopted in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 () or in a multiannual plan adopted under Articles 9 and 10 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, where, based on scientific advice, a reduction of fishing effort is needed in order to achieve the objectives referred to in Article 2(2) and point (a) of Article 2(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(d) where the temporary cessation of fishing activities occurs between 1 February and 31 December 2020 as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, including for vessels operating under a sustainable fisheries partnership agreement, or occurs on or after 24 February 2022 as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine that jeopardises the security of fishing activities or impedes the economic viability of fishing operations.

In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 65(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and by way of derogation from the first subparagraph thereof, expenditure for operations supported under point (d) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall be eligible as from 1 February 2020 if they are the consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, or as from 24 February 2022 if they are the consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine that jeopardises the security of fishing activities or impedes the economic viability of fishing operations.

2. The support referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 may be granted for a maximum duration of six months per vessel during the eligibility period referred to in Article 65(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013. That maximum duration shall not apply to the support referred to in point (d) of that subparagraph.

3. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be granted to:

(a) owners of Union fishing vessels which are registered as active and which have carried out fishing activities at sea for at least 120 days during the last two calendar years preceding the date of submission of the application for support; or (b) fishermen who have worked at sea for at least 120 days during the last two calendar years preceding the date of submission of the application for support on board a Union fishing vessel concerned by the temporary cessation.

3a. For the purpose of point (d) of paragraph 1, the following derogations shall apply:

(a) by way of derogation from point (a) of paragraph 3, where a fishing vessel has been registered in the Union fishing fleet register for less than two years at the date of submission of the application for support, Member States may calculate the minimum days of fishing activities required for that vessel as the proportion of 120 days in the last two calendar years;

(b) by way of derogation from point (b) of paragraph 3, where a fisherman has started working on board a Union fishing vessel less than two years prior to the date of submission of the application for support, Member States may calculate the minimum days of work required for that fisherman as the proportion of 120 days in the last two calendar years;

(c) by way of derogation from paragraph 3, support shall also be granted to fishermen on foot who have worked at least 120 days during the last two calendar years preceding the date of submission of the application for support. Where a fisherman on foot has started working less than two years prior to the date of submission of the application for support, Member States may calculate the minimum days of work required for that fisherman on foot as the proportion of 120 days in the last two calendar years.

4. All fishing activities carried out by the fishing vessel or by the fishermen concerned shall be effectively suspended. The competent authority shall satisfy itself that the fishing vessel concerned has stopped any fishing activities during the period concerned by the temporary cessation.