FLAG Factsheet
The Costa Brava FLAG area consists of eleven municipalities which are LLançà, El Port de la Selva, Cadaqués, Roses, L’Escala, Torroella de Montgrí, Palamós, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Tossa del Mar, Lloret del Mar, and Blanes. The territory is situated in the northeast of Spain and bordered by the French Vermilion Coast to the north and by the Maresme Coast to the south.
Challenges to the FLAG area include a high unemployment rate of 34%, higher than the regional average of 25%. Historically, fishing activities were a significant part of the local economy. However, between 2000 and 2013 the size of the fishing sector in the Costa Brava decreased. As such, the diversification of fisheries activities into other sectors, namely tourism, are important for the creating of jobs and boosting economic growth.
The FLAG covers the natural parks of Cap de Creus, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, and El Montgri which are included listed as both Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA).
The FLAG’s local development strategy aims to:
Promote the ‘blue economy’ in fisheries areas.
Regional
Project examples and ideas for the Costa Brava FLAG will be focused on the following themes:
Investment initiatives for boosting maritime tourism.
Call for projects are made annually and are published in the official Catalan journal.
The Costa Brava FLAG is eager to cooperate and exchange good practices on projects related to young entrepreneurship and marketing platforms for fisheries products.
The Costa Brava FLAG share its territory with the Adrinoc LEADER LAG and the two organisations operate on an informal basis. Additionally, the FLAG has been part of the Catalonian Local Action Groups Network since 2017.
FLAG members include the fishing organisations of Girona, Roses, Blanes, Palamós, l’Escala, Estarlit, Port de la Selva, LLançà and Cadaqués, the town halls of Port de Selva and LLançà, a local environmental NGO and a public foundation for the promotion of the maritime cultural heritage.