FLAG Factsheet
Bothnian Bay is in the northernmost part of the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic Sea. It freezes over completely every winter. There are several forms of fishing found here: mainly trap and gillnet, trawl fishing (when there is no ice), dragnet and net fishing in winter.
The main species caught are European whitefish, vendace, Baltic herring, Atlantic salmon and perch. Whitefish accounts for 40% of the total catch. Lamprey fishing is of major economic significance in the estuaries of rivers running into the bay.
The area is facing a demographic challenge: fishermen are ageing and the recruitment of young fishermen is difficult. Furthermore, the abundant and uncontrollably growing population of ringed seals and grey seals is impeding fishing activities.
15 areas, 739 km². Main area is National Park of the Bothnia Bay.
The FLAG strategy is three-fold:
National and Municipalities
Planned private funding € 252 000
Projects can be presented and selected on an ongoing basis.
The FLAG has long experience in the ecological restoration of rivers and lakes.
Inter-territorial cooperation is foreseen around study trips and general exchange of information and experience.
Transnational cooperation should focus on study trips and vicinity trading, as well as migratory fish populations and tackling the issue of seal populations in the FLAG Sea basin.
The FLAG shares a legal structure with the local LEADER LAG and their territories overlap. They have board members in common and also have a common Programme Management Committee which allows them to share strategies. The FLAG also cooperates with other FLAGs nearby and throughout Finland.
Members include municipalities of the FLAG area, small scale fisheries actors, fish processing units, the community of fisheries association of the Gulf of Bothnia and local LEADER groups.