FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network
FLAG Factsheet
The FLAG covers ten municipalities between the north west of Palermo province and the north-east part of Trapani province and was also operational during Axis 4. Tourism is one of the main economic activities in the area including spa and beach tourism, underwater archaeology and fisheries-related tourism (itti-tourism and pesca-tourism). However, the pressure on natural resources and the environment caused by tourism is high.
There are 10 fishing ports in the area, as well as 3 other places where fishing boats are moored. The fishing fleet consists of 306 small-scale fishing boats, of which many are below 12m in length. There are 2 offshore mari-culture facilities and 6 processing plants for fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Challenges here include poorly developed infrastructure in landing areas and a lack of real fish markets in the territory.
Specific for this area is that most of the catch is directly sold by the fishermen and freshly consumed by the locals and tourists. This tradition makes the territory attractive for tourism, however:
There is a Marine Protected Area “Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine”, and trawling is forbidden in the Castellamare gulf. On land, there are several Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Protection Areas: Bosco di Alcamo; La riserva Naturale dello Zingaro (Castellammare del Golfo), Cala Rossa e Capo Rama Terrasini, Isola delle Femmine, Grotta della Falesia di Pizzo Muletta (Capaci), Grotta della “Za Minica” (Capaci), Foce del Torrente Calatubo e Dune (Alcamo-Balestrate).
The FLAG strategy aims to enable sustainable economic development for small-scale coastal fishermen. By enhancing the involvement of the fisheries communities in the economic, environmental, cultural and tourist development of the area, the FLAG will work on valorising local fisheries traditions while preserving the environment and improving the economic prosperity of the fishermen.
FLAG actions focus on strengthening the competitiveness of the fishermen by developing their skills for diversification activities, improving safety and working conditions, improving the landing infrastructure and providing small infrastructure related to direct sales. Other actions include developing the tourism potential by promoting the natural resources and local products of the area and protecting the marine and coastal environment.
National and regional
The FLAG has cooperated with the "Il sole e l'azzurro tra Selinunte e Sciacca e Vigata" FLAG in Sicily to promote local fish products in the area and at the Milano Expo 2015.
The FLAG is interested in cooperation projects dealing with promotion of Sicilian products inside and outside the region, product marketing and placement, and the development of smart phone applications for promotion of the territory and products.
The FLAG works in close relation with the LEADER LAG Golfo di Castellammare which covers 90% of the same territory. The LEADER LAG is a member of the FLAG and has assumed the presidency of the board.
Members include all municipalities in the territory, two schools, Trapani university, seven fisheries cooperatives, three fisheries associations and one consortium for small-scale fisheries, three aquaculture companies, four fish processing companies, a bank and an environmental association.