Lake Peipsi FLAG

Official name:

MTÜ Peipsi Kalanduspiirkonna Arendajate Kogu

Country:

Estonia

Code:

EE208

Programming period:

2007-2013

2014-2020

Area

Lake Peipsi is the fourth largest lake in Europe and Estonia's largest FLAG. The Peipsi fisheries areas include Lake Peipsi, Lake Pihkva, Lake Lämmijärv, nine lakes in Vooremaa and the coastal areas of Suur-Emajõgi downstream from the city of Tartu. The area of activity of the FLAG includes Ida-Viru, Jõgeva, Tartu and Põlva counties.

An analysis of the area’s population revealed that one of the region’s greatest issues is the fact that the population is decreasing. It has reduced by 7% since the previous strategy began implementation in early 2009. The population is decreasing on both a local and regional level and the areas remote location on the Russian border would seem to exacerbate this.

Type of area:

Inland

Sea Basins:

Rivers and Lakes

Protected areas:

There are five Natura 2000 areas which cover about 586.86 km² or 37.96% of the area.

Population

32 028

Surface area (km²)

3 286

Population density

Total employment in fisheries

482

Fishing:

320

Aquaculture:

Processing:

160

Women employment in fisheries:

FLAG strategy

The FLAG strategy focuses on the following objectives:

Increasing the value of the local fish and improving the processing conditions
Developing locations for selling fish products and helping with joint marketing
Fostering the diversification of entrepreneurship, including fisheries businesses
Developing infrastructure and services for existing fishing ports and landing sites
Preserving fish resources and promoting preservation
Developing shore infrastructure for water tourism and making it more comfortable for the consumer
Developing cooperation and improving knowledge and skills

Themes:

Objective:

Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain

Priority:

% of the budget allocated:

50%

Supporting diversification

25%

Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets

Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage

10%

Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development

10%

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020:

4 546 198

Sources of co-funding:

National

Project examples

Fish processsing equipment, products sales and marketing
Multifunction ports
Landing places, sports- and playgrounds on the shore
Restoration of spawning areas

Calls for proposals

In 2016 two calls for projects have been published one in May and one in September, in 2017 three calls for projects: January, May, August.

For the following period 2018-2019 two calls are foreseen per year: February and August.

The calls are published at the following website: www.pkak.ee and in “Peipsirannik” newspaper.

Expertise & cooperation

The Peipsi FLAG is interested in promoting lifelong learning on various levels, raising the visibility of the fisheries sector among a wider and encouraging the youth to enter the sector. The FLAG looks to cooperate with neighbouring LAGs and FLAGs to promote the fisheries area. The FLAG is also intersted in transnational cooperation regarding fishing techniques and fish processing in other fisheries areas.

Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups

The FLAG does not share a legal structure with th elocal LEADER LAG. However, they informally coordinate their work and share territory with four nearby LAGs. The FLAG aslo cooperates with other FLAGs throughout Estonia.

Partnership

Members of the partnership:

The FLAG membership consits of 20 local municipalities, 31 self-employed fishermen, 41 companies working in fisheries and 36 other non-profit organisations and other private and self-employed persons.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly:

129

% of fisheries actors:

55%

% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors:

30%

Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board:

% of public actors:

15%

Number of contracted staff in FLAG:

2,50