FLAG Factsheet
The Bajo Nalón FLAG area is made up of just two municipalities (Muros de Nalón and Soto del Barco) in the Asturian region. This area also includes the Nalón river, the largest and most important river of the Spanish northern coast. Both municipalities are located at the mouth of the Nalón river.
It is worth mentioning that 73% of jobs in the FLAG area are concentrated in the service sector. The secondary sector only represents 5% while the primary sector (fishing and agriculture) accounts for 14% of employment. Eel is the main species targeted by local fishermen and the FLAG municipalities stand as a unique reference throughout the country for their elver fishery.
The FLAG designed its strategy with strong involvement of the fisheries sector. They considered the grants of the previous (2007-2013) programming period and focused on the increasing the supply of fisheries gastro-tourism.
In addition, the Bajo Nalón FLAG supports the professional diversification of workers in the fisheries sector and adding value to local fisheries products with the aim of creating closer ties between fishermen and the catering and hospitality industry.
The main objectives of the Bajo Nalón FLAG are the following:
Regional
There is a coordinated management of both LEADER (under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) and CLLD under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. This involves common goals and staff as well as a common methodology, but it does not imply multi-funding.
A call is launched in the first half of each year. Calls can be found at the following link: http://www.bajonalon.net/femp-2014-2020/
The Bajo Nalón FLAG shares its legal structure with a local LEADER LAG and their General Assembly is made up of both by LAG and FLAG members. The FLAG and LAG have independent strategies, but both are coordinated and share common goals. It has to be noted that an informal cooperation exists between this FLAG and a regional LAG network: the Red Asturiana de Desarrollo Rural -READER- (the Asturian Network of Rural Development).