Barlavento do Algarve FLAG

The Barlavento do Algarve FLAG area is in the southwest of Portugal and has strong links to the sea in terms of both fishing and tourism. It has four major ports (Albufeira, Portimão, Lagos and Sagres) which share the regions fishing and tourism activities. The port of Portimão has the capacity to receive cruise ships, an import factor to the areas tourism industry. Along the coast, there are still many small-scale coastal fishing communities which are actively involved in tourism. There are several aquaculture farms across in the region, which focus on the production of oysters, mussels, sea bream and bass. The farms are located both onshore (oysters, sea bream and bass) and offshore (oysters and mussels).

The main challenges for the FLAG include the sustainable re-establishment of small-scale fisheries in the area which suffered from the impacts of sectoral restructuring at national and community level over the past two decades. Additionally, a key challenge is successfully seeking and developing alternatives to the traditional tourism model; one which is more sustainable in the exploitation and recovery of coastal and estuarine resources and fisheries. Another challenge is to stimulate economic opportunities in new areas such as the green economy, sustainability, environmental protection and combination fisheries and maricultural activities.