FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network

FLAG Factsheet

La Plana FLAG

Official name: 
Grupo de Acción Local del Sector Pesquero La Plana
Country:
Region: 
Code: 
ES221
Programming period: 
2014-2020

Area

The La Plana FLAG area covers the provinces of the three coastal regions of Baix Maestrat, Plana Alta and Plana Baixa. The services industry, particularly hospitality and tourism, represents 85% of the FLAG area’s economic activity. Contrastingly, fisheries and aquaculture only account for 5% of employment. Over a five-year period, fishing activity has reduced, and the number of active fishing vessels has decreased by more than 10%.

While the types and size of fishing vessels vary, the majority of vessels are small-scale trawlers which account for 80% of area’s fishing activity. The main species landed and sold in the FLAG territory are anchovy, sardine, octopus, red mullet, cuttlefish, hake and shrimp.

The fisheries sector is going through a difficult phase socially with few incentives for younger generations to engage with the industry, presenting a challenge to the FLAG area. This, together with the evolution of an economic model dominated by the services sector, has led to the FLAG focusing on supporting the diversification in the fisheries into these sectors, while also maintaining the area’s maritime cultural heritage.

Type of area:
Sea Basins:
Protected areas: 

The FLAG has several protected areas under the conservation including the mouth of the Mijares River, the Columbretes Islands, the Las Palmas desert and the Irta Hills. In total these protected areas represent more than 50% of the FLAG territory.

Population
112 440
Surface area (km²)
273
Population density
410
Total employment in fisheries
1 144
Fishing: 
91
Aquaculture: 
32
Processing: 
1 021

FLAG strategy

La Plana FLAG strategy includes four main objectives:

 

  • Boosting the competitiveness of the area’s the fishing sector.

 

  • Professional diversification of workers in the fisheries sector.

 

  • Promoting and increasing the value of local fisheries products.

 

  • Promoting the area’s maritime cultural heritage.
Objective: 
Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain
Priority: 
5
% of the budget allocated: 
36%
Supporting diversification
5
32%
Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets
3
15%
Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage
2
11%
Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development
1
4%

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020: 
1 423 539
  • EMFF: 
    1 210 008
  • MS co-financing: 
    213 531
  • Sources of co-funding: 

    Regional

Project examples

While the FLAG has no specific project examples, future projects will be focused on: 

  • Actions which develop and boost the competitiveness of the sector.
  • Professional diversification of workers in the fisheries sector.
  • Development of tourism companies linked to the fishing activity.

The promotion of the area’s maritime cultural heritage. 

Calls for proposals

Calls for projects are made annually and are published on the FLAG website: http://www.galpcastellon.es/convocatorias-de-ayudas/

 

Partnership

Members of the partnership: 

FLAG members include the municipalities of Castelló de la Plana, Borriana, Vinaròs, Peñíscola and Benicarló, several fishing organisations (‘cofradías’), fisheries enterprises, cultural and tourism-related associations and the businessmen’s confederation of Castellón.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly: 
25
% of fisheries actors: 
32%
% of public authorities and other: 
20%
% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors: 
48%
% of environmental actors: 
0%
Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board: 
10
% of public actors: 
30%

Visuals

Map

FLAG Contacts

FLAG Castellón de la Plana
 
Plaça Miquel Peris i Segarra
1200 Castellón de la Plana
Spain
FLAG Manager:
Mr. Manuel Albiol Cumba
Phone:
+34 964 28 46 08
FLAG President:
Mr. Jaime Federico Zaragoza
Phone:
+34 964 28 46 08
Languages:
  • Spanish (Mother tongue)
  • English (Basic)
Publication date: 
12/09/2017
PDF Version