PERTE Agrifood Grants 2026: new requirements for fish and aquaculture processing industries

Key data

Fish and aquaculture product processing industries seeking European financing to modernize their facilities or production processes face a significant regulatory change. Royal Decree 394/2026, of May 13, modifies the regulatory bases approved in July 2024 for industrial strengthening grants within the PERTE Agrifood, with effects from May 13, 2026 itself.

The modification directly affects the requirements, conditions and procedures for accessing these subsidies financed with Next Generation EU funds. Any company with an ongoing file or planning to submit a new application must now operate under the new rules.

What does this regulation establish?

Royal Decree 394/2026 modifies the Royal Decree 657/2024, of July 9, which established the original regulatory bases for granting aid for industrial strengthening actions in the processing of fish and aquaculture products, within the PERTE Agrifood.

The changes introduced affect one or more of the following elements of the regulatory bases:

• Access requirements for applicant companies
• Conditions that must be met to obtain and maintain the grant
• Procedures for application, processing or justification

The general framework does not change: grants continue to be financed with Next Generation EU funds, framed within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) and aimed at modernizing facilities or production processes in the fish and aquaculture processing sector.

Economic and operational impact

The main impact of this modification is operational and compliance-related: companies that do not adapt their applications or files to the new conditions run the risk of having their applications rejected or having to return amounts already received.

As they are financed with Next Generation EU funds, these grants entail especially high justification and compliance requirements. This implies:

• Rigorous documentary traceability of all eligible expenses
• Strict compliance with execution deadlines set in the PRTR
• Risk of reimbursement in case of non-compliance with modified conditions
• Need to review ongoing files to verify they continue to meet new requirements

For companies that have not yet applied for the grant, the modification means they must prepare their application in accordance with the new bases, not those of July 2024. Submitting documentation based on previous regulations may be grounds for rejection.

Who does it affect?

• Fish product processing industries seeking to modernize facilities or production processes
• Aquaculture sector companies with ongoing or planned industrial strengthening projects
• Companies with open grant files under Royal Decree 657/2024 that must adapt to new conditions
• CFOs and financial directors responsible for justifying Next Generation EU funds in companies in the sector
• Advisors and consultants managing applications or grant files for PERTE Agrifood clients in the fishing and aquaculture sector

Practical example

A fish canning company that submitted its grant application under Royal Decree 657/2024 in the second half of 2024 and has its file in processing must, as of May 13, 2026, verify that its project and documentation comply with the new requirements and conditions established by Royal Decree 394/2026.

If any of the modified requirements affect its project (for example, changes in eligible expense criteria, required documentation or execution deadlines), it must update its file before the administration resolves. Failure to do so may result in an unfavorable resolution or, if the grant was already awarded and received, in a fund reimbursement procedure.

Similarly, an aquaculture company planning to submit a new application in 2026 must discard the July 2024 bases and work exclusively with the modified bases in force since May 13, 2026.

What should companies do now?

1. Review the new regulatory bases published in the BOE on May 19, 2026 to identify exactly which requirements, conditions or procedures have changed compared to Royal Decree 657/2024.
2. Audit ongoing files: if you have an application submitted or a grant awarded under the previous bases, verify that your project continues to meet the new conditions.
3. Update documentation of applications in preparation to adjust them to the new requirements before submitting them.
4. Consult with the managing entity if you have doubts about how the changes affect your specific file, especially if there are upcoming justification deadlines.
5. Strengthen documentary traceability of all eligible expenses, given that Next Generation EU funds require an especially high level of justification and any deviation may result in reimbursement.