Åland FLAG

Official name:

Leader Åland

Country:

Finland

Code:

FI210

Programming period:

2007-2013

2014-2020

Area

The Åland Islands is an autonomous Swedish-speaking region of Finland which forms an archipelago in the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia between eastern Sweden and south western Finland. There are over 6 500 skerries and islands which make up the Åland Islands. Commercial fishery targets freshwater species with gillnet and fish trap in the brackish waters, in particular Perch-pike, European whitefish, Perch, Pike, sold primarily in mainland Finland.

The main challenge faced by Åland Islands is the profitability of the fisheries sector, linked to cost of logistics, price competition from other countries, export embargos and large ferries destroying fishing areas.

Type of area:

Coastal
Island

Sea Basins:

Baltic Sea

Protected areas:

Åland has 87 Natura 2000 areas (57 already set, 30 in progress), 3 472 ha land and 35 000 ha water (2% of land area).

Population

28 983

Surface area (km²)

13 325

Population density

Total employment in fisheries

399

Fishing:

272

Aquaculture:

Processing:

Women employment in fisheries:

FLAG strategy

The FLAG strategy is set to increase the attractivity of the area to encourage more people to come, live and settle in Åland by improving the aquatic environment in the Baltic Sea, expanding cooperation between all stakeholders and supporting entrepreneurship in fishing tourism.

Called “Sustainable Fishing Åland”, the 2014-2020 FLAG strategy is three-pronged:

Environment: measures that have a direct bearing on fish and water environment, and measures to improve the management of fish stocks, such as restoration and refurbishment of spawning and nursery areas;
Knowledge: education, cooperation, raising the level of knowledge regarding fisheries, the marine environment or cultural heritage;
Experience: improve the experience of fish and marine environment for local inhabitants and tourists, development of new activities, new services and new leisure and cultural activities.

Themes:

Objective:

Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain

Priority:

Supporting diversification

Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets

42%

Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage

25%

Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development

18%

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020:

600 000

EMFF:

219 600
MS co-financing:

380 400
Sources of co-funding:

Regional

Project examples

Training overseers and organize supervision to help monitor poaching/illegal fishing
Restoration of a spawning area

Calls for proposals

Project applications can be submitted on an on-going basis. Selection takes place twice a year: in April and September.

Expertise & cooperation

The FLAG is involved in transnational cooperation on seal and cormorant issues with FLAGs from Estonia, Finland and Sweden.

Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups

The FLAG covers the same area as the LAG, with which it has a common local development strategy, shares its legal structure and offices and exchanges information daily.

Partnership

Accountable body:

FLAG Aland

Members of the partnership:

The FLAG brings together representatives of the archipelago municipalities, fisheries sector and environment protection associations.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly:

% of fisheries actors:

42%

% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors:

16%

% of environmental actors:

16%

Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board:

% of public actors:

25%

Number of contracted staff in FLAG:

1,00