FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network
FLAG Factsheet
The FLAG area lies in Eastern Macedonia, near the Turkish border. It can be characterised economically by the development of tourism, especially on the island of Samothraki. Agriculture is also important here. There is strong potential to develop aquaculture in the area.
The main challenges to be addressed in the new programming period include the enhancing of local entrepreneurship, raising environmental awareness among the business sector, environmental protection and the fight against social exclusion.
There is one Natura 2000 Special Protected Area (SPA): Fengari Samothrakis, which covers 29% of the FLAG’s area.
The strategy aims to enhance local entrepreneurship by promoting local identity so as to diversify the local economy and improve the quality of life. This will be achieved through the support of local production activities and employment in the area. The main measures to achieve these objectives include:
National
Calls for project proposals appear on the following website: www.dimossin.gr
The FLAG has experience in areas such as culture, energy efficiency, gastronomy and tourism. They are interested in transnational networking on fishing, aquaculture, marine tourism and coastal zone management.
One future project envisaged is entitled “Sea environment, coastal threats and fisheries”. This project aims to record, map and prioritise the risks the Greek sea faces in relation to fisheries and coastal areas. It is also hoped to expand networking with other Mediterranean areas for exchanges on fishing techniques and cultural aspects of the specific products of the area (i.e. mussels). In addition, it is hoped to expand cooperation in tourism.
The FLAG shares a legal structure with the local LEADER LAG and their territories overlap. They also have a common Programme Management Committee which allows them to share strategies. The FLAG also cooperates with other FLAGs nearby and throughout Greece.
The partnership has 11 members. FLAG members include the three local authorities in the area as well as the agricultural and fishing co-operative of Alexandroupolis, the union of municipalities and the chamber of commerce, two union groups, three agricultural co-operatives and the Evros cultural institutions union.