FLAG Factsheet
The area has a long tradition and experience in fisheries, but the potential of lake fishing and pond farming is underutilised. The unique natural assets can be used to valorise new local products, such as smoked vendace from Drawa Lake District, which is available from many small producers. Waters of the rivers and lakes in the FLAG area are very clean and are highly appropriate for fish production; they abound in vendace (25% of all the resource of this species in Poland) and whitefish. Pond fishing focuses mainly on carp, tench, roach and bream, predatory fish such as pike, pikeperch and perch, and salmonid fish such as salmon and rainbow trout.
There is a general trend of producers moving away from lake fishing to the more intensive activities of pond aquaculture and farming. Aquaculture, which is a more environmentally-friendly process, is becoming a stable element of the area’s cultural landscape. One of the key challenges for the FLAG is the lack of interest of young people in the profession. Incomes from tourism are highly seasonal.
Protected areas include the Drawno National Park, the Drawa Landscape Park, two areas of protected landscape and many Natura 2000 areas.
The FLAG strategy focuses on the following priorities:
National
The local strategy is also funded from EAFRD (which plays the role of Lead Fund). It will finance the increasing competitiveness of the area and job creation, using IT to promote cultural, natural and touristic assets of rural areas. Using local resources, it will also improve the quality of life of the local population.
Projects and ideas in the FLAG area include:
There will be periodic calls, information available on the FLAG website: http://www.partnerstwodrawy.pl/strefa-beneficjenta/harmonogram-naborow.html
The FLAG is also a LAG, receiving LEADER (EAFRD) funding. It also cooperates closely with other LAGs and FLAGs in the Western Pomeranian region.
Eleven municipalities and two county administrations, local labour office, schools and cultural centres represent the public sector; numerous businesses, including several fish farms, local tourism organisations, associations and 64 individuals.