FLAG Factsheet
The autonomous community of the Basque Country, situated at the easternmost end of the Cantabrian coast area, has 246km coastline, representing 5% of the Spanish coast. The Basque FLAG is the only fisheries group in the territory, which spans approximately 750km2, and has a population of 145 000. The area’s main fisheries activities are on the Gulf of Vizcaya. After the Galician fleet, the Basque fishing fleet is the second largest in Spain. Additionally, around 70% of the inshore fleet is dedicated to small-scale fishing. The gear used includes troll lines, set longlines and gillnets. Catches in the area include anchovies, horse mackerel and sardines.
Historically, the economy of the area has been closely linked to fishing and its associated activities. Related challenges include a need for diversification in the area’s fisheries sector. Which, in turn, will result in the creating jobs.
The FLAG’s local development strategy aims to:
Regional
Projects examples and ideas for the FLAG include the following:
The FLAG makes annual calls for projects which are published on the FLAG website
The Basque FLAG shares its territory with the local LEADER LAG. As a result, an informal cooperation exists between and several FLAG members are also members of the LAG.
The Cádiz Estrecho FLAG is made up of eight members, including the ‘Gipuzkoa’ and ‘Bizkaia’ fishing organisations, the Basque association of women in fisheries and the Basque Government Corporation for the development of the rural and marine environments.