La Sidra FLAG

The Sidra FLAG, located in the mid-eastern part of Asturias, consists of five municipalities: Colunga, Bimenes, Cabranes, Nava and Villaviciosa. The area spans 570km2 which is approximately 5% of the Asturian region.

The area has a strong tourism sector, which represents nearly 70% of its economic activity. Fisheries account for only 14% of the regional economy. The local fishing fleet is small, comprising just 25 inshore fishing vessels with a total crew of roughly 80 fishermen. Fishing activities are mainly concentrated in the ports of Lastres and Tazones. In Lastres, larger vessels operate purse seine, longline and gillnet methods, while in Tazones the fleets are predominantly small-scale. In Tazones, more than half of the catches are crustaceans and molluscs, although other high-value species such as red mullet or sea bass are also commonplace. The larger purse-seine and longline vessels in Lastres are focused more on pelagic species, among which the “xarda” and the hake stand out, although the “pixín” or red mullet are also noteworthy.

Challenges for the FLAG area include a lack of diversification in the fisheries sector. As the tourism sector grows, the region’s fisheries risk being left behind. As such, the area’s maritime heritage and traditions may also be diluted and forgotten if they are not incorporated into the area’s tourism offering. Such concerns are central to the FLAG’s local development strategy.