FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network

FLAG Factsheet

Northern Artabro Gulf FLAG

Official name: 
Grupo de Acción Local do Sector de Pesqueiro Golfo Ártabro Norte
Country:
Code: 
ES207
Programming period: 
2014-2020

Area

The Golfo Ártabro Norte FLAG is situated in the northeast of Galicia. It includes ten municipalities located north of the (“Golfo”) Ártabro Bay, more specifically those around the rias of Betanzos, Ares and Ferrol.

At the heart of the territory, the cities of Ferrol and Narón, form one agglomeration and concentrate the main economic activities of the area. Ferrol harbour has a long naval tradition. The surrounding area and coastline is dotted with dispersed small villages that represent a high environmental and cultural value.

The territory has 10 landing points with basic facilities used daily by around 250 small-scale traditional fishing boats. Most products go straight to nearby big auctions located out of the region such as La Coruña and Cedeira. In addition, shell fish gatherers are working in the tidal area of the beaches. Once collected, different purifying service providers in the area buy the products and sell them on. A large amount of the local seafood is directly exported outside the region without any locally added value. In addition, other economic activities such as shipyards affect natural resources (water quality, fish stocks) negatively which in turn leads to decreasing volumes of production. Fishermen and shell fish gatherers therefore need to find alternative sources of income either by diversifying their activities or by adding value to their products.

Type of area:
Sea Basins:
Protected areas: 

Both municipalities of Miño and Paderne are included in the natural reserva of “Biosfera Mariñas Coruñesas and Terras do Mandeo”.

The Sites of Community Importance (SCI) Betanzos – Mandeo, Costa Ártabra, Fragas do Eume and Río Xubia – Castro are part of the FLAG’s area.

Population
89 978
Surface area (km²)
364
Population density
247
Total employment in fisheries
700
Fishing: 
166
Aquaculture: 
446
Processing: 
88
Women employment in fisheries: 
168

FLAG strategy

The main objective is to capitalise on the marine, cultural and touristic assets of the area. Primarily, the FLAG looks for projects that introduce new methods and/or technics to add value to the fisheries products.

Next to that, by supporting cross-sectoral projects, businesses and organisations will get to know each other and start to cooperate. Therefore, priority will be given to different training and network programmes that support cross sectoral entrepreneurship and that, consequently, generate alternative activities for the fisheries sector such as tourism.

The overall aim of the strategy is to increase the quality of life of its coastal habitants.

Objective: 
Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain
Priority: 
5
% of the budget allocated: 
46%
Supporting diversification
4
30%
Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets
3
16%
Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage
2
6%

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020: 
6 143 270
  • EMFF: 
    5 221 780
  • MS co-financing: 
    921 490
  • Sources of co-funding: 

    Regional

Project examples

  • Mutual promotion of agricultural and fisheries products;
  • Support for initiatives on all year-round tourism;
  • Promotion of marine tourism as a new economic engine in the territory;
  • Set-up entrepreneurial initiatives in the territory;
  • Add value to the marine heritage and identity.

Calls for proposals

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

Calls are published here.

Expertise & cooperation

The FLAG is a partner in the cooperation project, "Mar Galaica 2016/2017" which involves six Galician FLAGs in jointly promoting maritime tourism in the region.

Partnership

Members of the partnership: 

The FLAG has 34 members[1]:

Six fishermen's associations (cofradías);

Ten municipalities;

Eighteen associations (seven sociocultural, nine sports and two touristic business 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: 
27
% of fisheries actors: 
21%
% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors: 
38%
% of environmental actors: 
7%
Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board: 
13
% of public actors: 
23%
Number of contracted staff in FLAG: 
3,00

Visuals

Map

FLAG Contacts

Grupo de Acción Local del Sector Pesquero - Golfo Artabro Norte
 
Rúa Curro 33
15630 Miño
Spain
FLAG President:
Ms. María José Crespo Fraga
FLAG Manager:
Ms. Maria Antonia Fernández Abeledo
Phone:
+34 981 78 44 17
Languages:
  • Spanish (Mother tongue)
  • English (Intermediate)
  • French (Basic)
Publication date: 
18/04/2017
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