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1. The EMFF may support the following compensation schemes:

(a) compensation to mollusc farmers for the temporary suspension of the harvesting of farmed molluscs, where such suspension occurs exclusively for reasons of public health;

(b) granting working capital and compensation to aquaculture farmers. Compensation referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph may be granted for the temporary suspension or reduction of production and sales or for the additional storage costs occurring between 1 February and 31 December 2020 as a consequence of the COVID‐19 outbreak.

2. Support under point (a) of paragraph 1 may only be granted where the suspension of harvesting due to the contamination of molluscs is the result of the proliferation of toxin‐producing plankton or the presence of plankton containing biotoxins, and provided that:

(a) the contamination lasts for more than four consecutive months; or (b) the loss, resulting from the suspension of harvesting, amounts to more than 25 % of the annual turnover of the business concerned, calculated on the basis of the average turnover of that business over the three calendar years preceding the year in which the harvest was suspended. For the purposes of point (b) of the first subparagraph, Member States may establish special calculation rules in respect of companies with less than three years of activity.

3. The duration for which compensation under point (a) of paragraph 1 may be granted shall be a maximum of 12 months over the entire programming period. In duly justified cases, it may be extended once for a maximum of an additional 12 months up to a combined maximum of 24 months.

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 (b) of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be eligible as of 1 February 2020.