FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network

FLAG Factsheet

Litoral Alentejo FLAG

Official name: 
GALP Litoral Alentejano
Country:
Code: 
PT210
Programming period: 
2007-2013
2014-2020

Area

The area covers the municipalities of Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Sines, Santiago do Cacém, Odemira. In economic terms, the FLAG area is characterised as having a low business density, with agriculture and tourism being the most important sectors. A restructuring of the local economy is, therefore, an essential element of any local development strategy.

The main challenges facing the area are socio-economic, and concern:

  • A decline in the economic and social importance of the fisheries sector, which is made up largely of small to medium sized family businesses. The number of people dependent on the sector decreased by 42% over the last decade.
  • Gender issues: the wives of local fishermen and shellfish farmers generally work at home, helping with sales, administration or other tasks, or sometimes serve as crew members. The economic crisis and rising unemployment in Portugal, have led to an increase in the number of women entering the fisheries sector.
    Specific challenges arising include:
    • Strengthening the appreciation of women as professionals in the fisheries and related sectors (equal opportunities);
    • Increasing support for female entrepreneurship in particular to attract business investment;
    • Improving the acquisition of skills and the creation of better local conditions for informal vocational training;
    • Increasing supply of equipment and infrastructure to support children and older people.
  • Infrastuctural investments: local municipalities have to provide infrastructure and equipment to meet the social, cultural and sporting needs and interests of local inhabitants. To improve the area’s attractiveness, there is a need to invest in infrastructure and improve well-being and quality of life for the local community.
  • additional social concerns such as the isolation of the elderly, alcoholism and domestic violence.
  • an unemployment rate of close to 15% (2011) in some municipalities.

Six regions: one coastal and five inland (with fishing in the reservoirs of Campilhas, Vale do Gaio and Santa Clara)

Type of area:
Sea Basins:
Protected areas: 
  • Nature Reserves: the Sado River estuary, the Santo André Lagoon and the Sancha Lagoon.
  • The Southwest Alentejano and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
Population
61 045
Surface area (km²)
1 387
Population density
44
Total employment in fisheries
325
Women employment in fisheries: 
37

FLAG strategy

The strategic goal of the FLAG is to "realise the potential of local resources and promote activities linked to the sea and water resources." From a territorial development and cooperation perspective, the main elements of the strategy will be considered in a cross-cutting way. These include:

  • Mobilising local resources to improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of the area;
  • The recognition and updating of formal and non-formal skills;
  • Greater territorial and social cohesion;
  • Sustainable management of coastal areas and water resources;
  • Promoting entrepreneurship (through innovation), drawing on technical and traditional knowledge.

The FLAG strategy has four main strands, which focus on creating conditions to promote tourism, entrepreneurship, innovation and the revitalisation of the fisheries sector.

Objective: 
Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain
Priority: 
5
Supporting diversification
4
Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets
1
Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage
2
Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development
3

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020: 
2 003 600
  • EMFF: 
    1 703 060
  • MS co-financing: 
    300 539
  • Sources of co-funding: 

    National

  • Multi-funding: 
    • ESF: €678 167
    • EAFRD: €1394 523
  • Funds: 
    EAFRD
    ESF

Project examples

Planned investments under the EMFF will focus on:

  • Innovation in the use of maritime resources;
  • Strengthening the competitiveness of the fisheries sector;
  • Strengthening the competitiveness of the tourism sector;
  • Improving the quality of local products;
  • Preserving, conserving and enhancing local heritage, natural resources and the natural environment linked to fisheries;
  • Promoting short circuits and local markets;
  • Developing and promoting Marine Plans;
  • Promoting educational and vocational qualification related to the sea. Planned investments under the EAFRD will focus on:
  • Supporting the business sector;
  • Supporting the conservation, protection, promotion and development of the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

Planned investments under the ESF will focus on:

  • Supporting social entrepreneurship and employability;
  • Supporting social inclusion.

Calls for proposals

The FLAG will publish its first call for projects following publication of the relevant national legislation.

Expertise & cooperation

One of the main objectives of the FLAG is to encourage local people and organisations to contribute to the development of the area and improve its visibility by engaging in a “territorial marketing” process. Transnational cooperation will play an important part in this and will also provide an opportunity for the FLAG to meet, discuss and learn new ways of working, promoting the area and improving skills.

The Local Development Agency, ADL, has already developed cooperation projects and, up to the end of 2015, hosted visits from FLAGs from other countries interested in learning from the projects carried out in Alentejo Litoral.

The thematic areas of cooperation are already agreed but the specific projects and the budget are not yet defined.

The themes under which the FLAG aims to develop national and transnational cooperation projects are:

  • Tourism and animation - the exchange of experiences between coastal areas in order to test new forms of territorial marketing (development of tools and methodologies for the management, promotion and marketing of tourism products linked to the activities of the sea).
  • Environment and natural resources - to promote the conservation and enhancement of the area’s natural heritage and fisheries resources.Cultural Heritage - to promote the sharing and exchange of traditional knowledge.
  • Skills and basic services for the coastal economy – to encourage cooperation and the exchange of experience between local development actors.
  • Innovation and the marketing of local products and services – promote innovation and the organisation of marketing channels for local products at regional, national and transnational level.

Partnership

Accountable body: 
FLAG Litoral Alentejano
Members of the partnership: 
  • Municipalities of: Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém, Sines, Odemira,
  • University of Évora; Polytechnical institute of Setúbal; Sines Tecnopolo – Associação Centro de Incubação de Empresas de Base Tecnológica Vasco da Gama; IEFP – Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional, IP
  • Docapesca, Portos e Lotas, SA; Mútua dos Pescadores, CRL; AAPSACV – Assoc. De Armadores da Pesca Artesanal e do Cerco do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina; Associação de Mariscadores da Terra de Vasco da Gama; Associação Cultural e de Desenvolvimento de Pescadores e Moradores da Azenha do Mar; Instituto de Conservaçao da Natureza e das Florestas
  • Associação Recreativa, Desportiva e Cultural das Lagoas e Praias; Juventude Desportiva do Carvalhal; ALSAB – Assoc. Desportiva Recreativa e Cultural da Lagoa de Santo André e Brescos; TAIPA-Organização Cooperativa para o Desenvolvimento Integrado do Concelho de Odermira, CRL; ADRAL – Agência de Desenvolvimento Regional do Alentejo SA; Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Sines; EPO – Centro Escolar e Empresarial do Sudoeste Alentejano, S.A.; Clube Bass Friends; Associação Estrela do Mar; Carrasqueira Mar – Comércio e Indústria de Produtos Alimentares, Lda.; Aquamar, SA.; Oceanic, Lda.; Ecoalga, Lda.; Cáritas Paroquial de Sines
Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly: 
30
% of fisheries actors: 
27%
% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors: 
33%
% of environmental actors: 
7%
Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board: 
9
% of public actors: 
43%
Number of contracted staff in FLAG: 
5,00

Visuals

Map

FLAG Contacts

FLAG Litoral Alentejano
 
Edifício ARBCAS,
Estrada Nacional 2612,
7565-014 Alvalade
Portugal
FLAG Manager:
Ms. Maria João Pereira
Phone:
+351 269 827 233
Languages:
  • Portuguese (Mother tongue)
  • English (Advanced)
  • Spanish (Intermediate)
  • French (Basic)
Publication date: 
29/12/2016
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