Costa da Morte FLAG

Official name:

Grupo de acción local do sector Pesqueiro da Costa da Morte

Country:

Spain

Region:

Galicia

Code:

ES205

Programming period:

2007-2013

2014-2020

Area

The name of the coastal area of Costa da Morte (“Coast of Death”) refers to its partly rough and rocky shoreline. In between, the coastline which offers attractive beaches and areas of high environmental value.

The FLAG has twelve small harbours which generate crucial employment for their immediate surroundings. Almost 300 small-scale fishing boats sell their catches at one of the seven auctions. Daily landings ensure the supply of high quality fish and seafood products. The canning industry is the only processing activity in the FLAGs territory.

In general, the area and especially small cities such as Camarinas, Malpice and Muxia struggle with high unemployment rates due to a lack of (quality) jobs, leading to a high number of young educated people leaving the region. This also leads to a decline and aging of the overall population.

Thanks to the geography of the area, which has many beaches with fine sand and several protected areas, tourism has emerged as an alternative to the decline of traditional industries. However, there is no common approach to fully tap into this opportunity because of a shortage of knowledge and services within this sector.

Type of area:

Coastal

Sea Basins:

Atlantic

Protected areas:

There are three protected areas (Natura2000). This includes Sites of Community Importance “Costa da Morte” and “Río Anllóns-Cabo Vilán” and the Special Protection Area “Costa da Morte”.

Next to these areas, the region has more sites of high environmental value.

Population

81 442

Surface area (km²)

962

Population density

Total employment in fisheries

1 488

Fishing:

917

Aquaculture:

175

Processing:

396

FLAG strategy

One of the main FLAG objectives is to support actors in setting up new businesses directly related to fisheries activity. This might include new processing activities or creating added value to fishery products for specific (niche) markets. The region’s brand and its characteristics will be key in the marketing of the local products.

Secondly, the FLAG calls for new activities linked with the marine and maritime environment. This varies from harvesting or farming of new products (e.g. algae), re-using ancient techniques for art crafts (e.g. netmaking) or hosting visitors and introducing them to the cultural and natural assets of the region.

The overall aim of the strategy is to create additional employment and income in the area. Therefore, in parallel with these two objectives, support will be given to train individuals on setting up a business and to share knowledge. This pool of skilled professional can bring a business mindset in the region which in return can generate new activities making the area an attractive place to live, work and visit.

Themes:

Objective:

Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain

Priority:

% of the budget allocated:

25%

Supporting diversification

25%

Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets

25%

Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage

10%

Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development

25%

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020:

7 304 701

EMFF:

5 478 526
MS co-financing:

1 826 175
Sources of co-funding:

Regional

Project examples

Setting-up various activities as part of food processing including filleting, drying, smoking, producing ready-made meals and packaging;
Training of fishermen or family members for setting-up diversification projects;
Promoting gastronomic tourism linked to fishery products.

Good Practice

Circular thinking to promote local shell-fishing

Net mending: preserving tradition through diversification

Cultivating microalgae for omega-3

Calls for proposals

Every year there will be a call for project proposals with a deadline of the 1^st of March. If the budget of this call is not exhausted, a second call will be organised, with a deadline of the 1^st of September (except in 2020, when there will be no second call, to ensure the programme is closed on time).

Calls are published here: www.accioncosteira.es

Expertise & cooperation

Experience with the cooperation project, "Mar Galaica" www.margalaica.net/en/, which involved all Galician FLAGs in jointly promoting maritime tourism in the region.
The FLAG is mainly interested in exchange and cooperation on:
- processing and marketing of fisheries products and
- diversifying activities in the fisheries sector.

Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups

The FLAG territory overlaps with the Leader LAG Costa da Morte. The FLAG acts as an independent body but FLAG and LEADER LAG share certain board members. Common partners include the seven municipalities (public sector), four associations representing the economic and three representing the social sector (14 in total). Offices are shared in the same building which facilitates informal exchanges between LAG and FLAG staff. The information given to potential project promotors covers both programmes to link with the instrument that best fits with the specific proposal.

There is no common strategy but the draft versions of the LAGs’ strategies were also adapted to be in line with the already approved strategy of the FLAG.

Partnership

Accountable body:

Grupo de Acción Local del Sector Pesquero da Costa da Morte

Members of the partnership:

The FLAG has 51 members[1]:

All nine local public authorities of the territory;
Eleven fishermen's, net makers and shellfish associations;
Ten business organisations and
Twenty-one social associations.

[1] This information is independent of the consultation of environmental actors during the elaboration of the local development strategy.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly:

% of fisheries actors:

21%

% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors:

61%

Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board:

% of public actors:

19%

Number of contracted staff in FLAG:

3,00