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Country: Finland Region: Lapland
Area: The main lake areas of Lapland Code: FI207
Operational: 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 programming period ( 2007-2013 as Northern and Eastern Lapland)
Name of the FLAG in Finnish: Lapin kalatalouden toimintaryhmä
Lapland is the northernmost part of the EU. During long winters (usually six months) the lakes are covered with a 60-80 cm thick layer of ice. Short summers are busy with nights illuminated by the midnight sun. The population density is very low, and the number of inhabitants is declining in most areas. The unemployment rates are high, between 13-18%. Tourism is flourishing, however, providing a growing market for local products. Around 10% of the population is employed in primary production (forestry, farming, reindeer husbandry, fisheries) and there is significant potential to develop fisheries due to the abundance of fish stocks in the area’s lakes, a good demand for fish, and excellent water quality. The challenge is recruiting young people into the fisheries sector.
In the FLAG, there are 80 registered fishermen of whom 40 are full-time professionals, three fish processing companies, and three aquaculture companies. The demand for high quality freshwater fish is very good but the main challenge for fishermen is to increase the volume produced and to provide a reliable delivery system.
Population: 27 400 Surface [area/km²]: 35 579
Population Density [Inhabitants/ km²]: 0.77 Coastal or inland: Inland (3 660 km² of lakes)
Protected areas: There are no protected waterways, except for some spatial and temporal fishing restrictions to protect migrating salmon species. Some of the large national parks and nature reserves are protected wilderness areas.
Employment in fisheries: 90 Fishing: 70
Aquaculture: 10 Processing: 10
Women employed in fisheries: 5
The main objectives of the strategy are to improve the profitability and viability of the fisheries sector and to maximise the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. With an ageing workforce, the average age of fishermen being ca. 55 years in some areas, it is essential to attract young people into fisheries in order to secure the future of the sector. More specifically, the strategy will aim to:
Objectives | Priority (1 is low, 5 is very high) | % of the budget allocated to them in the strategy |
Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain | 5 | 37 |
Supporting diversification | 4 | 30 |
Enhancing and capitalising on environmental assets | 1 | 0 |
Promoting social well being and cultural heritage | 1 | 0 |
Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development | 5 | 33 |
Projects can be presented and selected on an ongoing basis.
The fishermen in Lapland have developed efficient and cost-effective fishing techniques, both for the winter and the open water season. The fish caught in Lapland is well-known for its high quality, as the fishermen handle the fish properly along the whole chain, from lake to market. There are also some well-functioning fishermen’s cooperatives. Fishermen in this area would be interested in learning how tourism can be combined with fisheries in the most profitable way.
Transnational: Sharing our expertise in fishing techniques and fish processing with other inland FLAGs.
Budget available for cooperation [€]: 40 000
Lead partner or Responsible Legal Entity:
LAG Northernmost Lapland
Municipalities of Inari, Sodankylä, Kemijärvi and Pello; Lapland Fisheries Advisory Organisation; four fishermen’s cooperatives in all four municipalities (The Arctic Char of Aurora Borealis Area, Lokka Nature Resources Cooperative, The Wild Trout of Lapland and the fishermen’s cooperative of Pello) and the Sámi Education Center.
% of public actors (on the decision-making body):40
% of fisheries actors: 40
% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors: 20
% of environmental actors 0
Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/ general assembly: 10
Number of individuals on main decision-making body/ board: 10
Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups:
FLAG territory is the same as (or overlaps with) one or several CLLD territory/territories FLAG territory overlaps with two LAG territories. | Yes |
FLAG shares its legal structure with a Leader LAG/CLLD group FLAG shares its legal structure with the Leader LAG Northernmost Lapland. | Yes |
FLAG shares certain board members with a Leader LAG/CLLD group FLAG shares one board member with the Leader LAG Northernmost Lapland. | Yes |
FLAG and LAG have a common local development strategy (with separate sections for EMFF/ EAFRD/ other ESI funds) FLAG and LAGs have separate local development strategies. | No |
FLAG coordinates its work informally with nearby LEADER LAG(s) – how? The FLAG coordinates its work informally with the LAGs by having frequent discussions with the LAG personnel and the FLAG manager participates in the board meetings of the LAGs when necessary. | Yes |
Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020 [€]: 983 000
EMFF [€]: 409 500
Member State co-financing [€]: 573 500
Source of co-financing :national €465 500 and municipal €108 000
Planned private funding: €539 000
President/Chair:Eero Liekonen
FLAG Manager: Markku Ahonen
Email: markku.ahonen (at) pll.fi
Telephone: +358407046094
Postal address:
Pohjoisimman Lapin Leader, Sairaalantie 3 B, FIN-99800 Ivalo, Finland
FLAG website: www.pohjoisinlappi.fi
Number of contracted staff in FLAG [FTE]: 1
Language information: Finnish, English, Swedish