FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network

FLAG Factsheet

Fuerteventura FLAG

Official name: 
GAC Fuerteventura
Country:
Region: 
Code: 
ES236
Programming period: 
2007-2013
2014-2020

Area

The island of Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands and includes the 4.8Km2 islet of Lobos. It has a low, sandy coastline resulting from intense erosion. The activities that traditionally occupied the local population (agriculture, including cattle farming, and fishing) now provide employment to scarcely 1.2% of the population, while three quarters of jobs are linked to the service sector, and in particular tourism.

Employment in marine fishing has very little weight in the overall economy, accounting for just 131 registered workers. Fishing in Fuerteventura is small-scale, characterised by small boats with limited engine power and fuel consumption and crews often made up of family members of friends. Many of these boats are polyvalent, given the impressive diversity of marine ecosystems.

Some of the challenges that the area and sector faces is how to improve the marketing of (and therefore value derived from) its local catch, 80% of which is currently sole wholesale outside the island. Public awareness of the local fishing sector and the qualities of the local fish is low and the island also grapples with a need to improve local skills and yet a lack of training centres on the island.

Type of area:
Sea Basins:
Protected areas: 

Fuerteventura boasts a series of protected areas with regional, national, European and worldwide recognition. Twelve natural sites are part of the Canaries network of protected areas, while 12 Special Areas of Conservation and 9 Special Protection Areas, designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive  are part of the European Natura 2000 network. A significant part of the island is also recognised as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Population
74 983
Surface area (km²)
1 660
Population density
45
Total employment in fisheries
120
Women employment in fisheries: 
3

FLAG strategy

The FLAG has prioritised the following areas of action:

  • Strengthening the competitiveness of the island’s fisheries sector, especially through improving the marketing and product differentiation of local products, but also through processing the catch of small-scale fisheries with a view to creating and maintaining inclusive employment and improving working conditions.
  • Fostering diversification of the fisheries activity (e.g. pesca-tourism and other types of fisheries-related tourism) and generally building synergies with tourism while capitalising on the potential and human capital of women and other groups.
  • Protecting the environmental assets of Fuerteventura’s fishing areas and mitigating climate change through the reduction of CO2 emissions linked to the fishing activity and optimising the use of resources.
  • Promoting the island’s fisheries heritage and the image of small-scale coastal fishing while strengthening the voice of the sector.
Objective: 
Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain
Priority: 
5
Supporting diversification
5
Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets
3
Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage
3
Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development
1

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020: 
468 886
  • EMFF: 
    351 665
  • MS co-financing: 
    117 222
  • Sources of co-funding: 

    Regional

Project examples

  • Carrying out pilot actions to process local fisheries products (tuna) and market studies to improve marketing on the island.
  • Initiatives to support the development of fisheries-related tourism, including pesca-tourism. 
  • Awareness-raising campaign and promotion of local fisheries products to improve the public image and knowledge of Fuerteventura’s small-scale fishing activity.
  • Development of an action plan by Fuerteventura’s “cofradías” (fishing organisations) for the reduction of greenhouse gases. 

Expertise & cooperation

The FLAG is interested in cooperation projects linked to:

  • pesca-tourism and/or fisheries tourism in general
  • processing (in particular of tuna)

Partnership

Members of the partnership: 

The FLAG has 18 members in its General Assembly, including the provincial government (Cabilido de Fuerteventura), three “cofradias” (fishing organisations), the island’s biosphere reserve, a women’s association and Fuerteventura’s trade union of public sector workers. These seven members make up the decision-making board.

Other members include: the island’s five Town Halls; Fuerteventura’s association of volunteers; the Institute of Nature and Industrial Applications (I.C.E.N.A); the environmental association, AGONANE; the Marine Bio and Technology company, Oceomic S.L.; the Fuerteventura sailing club; and an association of people with disabilities.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly: 
18
% of fisheries actors: 
18%
% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors: 
22%
% of environmental actors: 
17%
Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board: 
7
% of public actors: 
29%
Number of contracted staff in FLAG: 
1,00

Map

FLAG Contacts

Grupo de Acción Costera Fuerteventura
 
Calle lucha canaria 112
Puerto del Rosario Fuerteventura
35600 Islas Canarias
Spain
FLAG Manager:
Mr. Luis Lerma
Phone:
+34 928 53 12 03
Languages:
  • Spanish (Mother tongue)
  • English (Intermediate)
Publication date: 
12/09/2017
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