FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network

FLAG Factsheet

Lake Vättern FLAG

Official name: 
Leader Vättern
Country:
Code: 
SE213
Programming period: 
2007-2013
2014-2020

Area

The FLAG area covers the whole lake Vättern, which is the second largest lake in Sweden. There are around 20 commercial small-scale fishermen and the species of greatest economic value is crayfish. The lake is also famed for the Arctic char, a popular catch for sports fishers an important activity to the region. Other common catches salmon, trout, pike and perch. Fishermen in the area do a lot of their own processing, for example, smoking of fish and boiling crayfish.

Despite this, relatively low amounts of fish caught in the lake are consumed locally which is a challenge to the area. As are the challenges associated with developing tourism and diversifying, or even including, fisheries in the tourism sector. The FLAG aims to develop sports tourism as a means of creating jobs. Environmental concerns associated with migration barriers and the management of fish stocks are also a challenge to the FLAG.   

Type of area:
Sea Basins:
Protected areas: 

The whole of Lake Vättern (2151 km2) is a Nature 2000 area. There are three areas protected from fishing all year, where only fishing for crayfish is allowed.

Population
143 413
Surface area (km²)
5 955
Population density
25
Total employment in fisheries
27
Fishing: 
18
Aquaculture: 
2
Processing: 
7

FLAG strategy

The Lake Vättern FLAG’s local development strategy is focused on the following four main themes:

  • Environmental monitoring and fish conservation.
  • Business development.
  • Information and collaboration.
  • Accessibility.

More specific objectives within the FLAG strategy include:

  • The development of more local processing facilities and shorter supply chains which will see more fish from Lake Vättern in local restaurants.
  • The creation of more jobs in tourism and the diversification of fisheries activities into tourism.
  • The development of better linkages with other areas to cross pollenate marketing and tourism efforts.
  • Update environmental data analysis systems which can be used for management of the fish stocks and migration barriers.
  • Adapt and develop the lakes ports, making them more suitable, especially for non-commercial fishermen and tourists.
Objective: 
Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting innovation along the fisheries chain
Priority: 
5
Supporting diversification
-
Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets
4
Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage
4
Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development
2

Funding

Total public budget allocated to the FLAG for 2014-2020: 
1 400 000
  • EMFF: 
    700 000
  • MS co-financing: 
    700 000
  • Sources of co-funding: 

    National and regional

Project examples

Project examples for the FLAG include:

  • A Collaborative effort to increase knowledge about the population of burbot in Lake Vättern: Fisheries sector, authorities and scientists work together. Fishermen’s provide knowledge and field work, while scientist evaluate the results.
  • Co-management group for fish and fishery in Lake Vättern: A group which includes stakeholders involved in fishing that discuss fishing management, environmental monitoring and rules for fishing. The group develops suggestions regarding changes of the fisheries legislation.
  • Projects regarding marinas: Different projects which aim to develop accessibility to Lake Vättern, for both non-commercial and commercial fishermen.

For more information about our ongoing projects, please visit our website: http://www.vattern.org/stod-for-fiske/projekt/

Calls for proposals

The FLAG makes project selections four times a year, normally in normally February, April, September, December. More in information is available on the FLAG website

Expertise & cooperation

The FLAG has experience and expertise in fish conservation, environmental monitoring, local development management, inland small-scale fisheries and sports fishing tourism.

The FLAG is interested in cooperation projects related to diversification, increasing value of the fishing resource, increased use of undervalued species, fishing tourism, fishing management and conservation.

Partnership

Accountable body: 
Leader Vättern
Members of the partnership: 

FLAG members include the local municipalities (Jönköping, Ödeshög, Vadstena, Motala, Askersund, Karlsborg, Hjo, Habo), a fishermen’s organisation, private fishing companies, private processing companies, individual fishermen, several NGOs, representatives from the tourism sector, the county administrative board (financing and adjunct board member) and a fisheries research institute (adjunct board member). 

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly: 
18
% of fisheries actors: 
22%
% of public authorities and other: 
39%
% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors: 
22%
% of environmental actors: 
17%
Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board: 
9
% of public actors: 
22%
Number of contracted staff in FLAG: 
0,50

Map

FLAG Contacts

Leader Vättern
 
Jönköpings län
551 86 Jönköping
Sweden
FLAG Manager:
Mr. Adam Johansson
Phone:
+46 10 223 63 54
FLAG Basic contact:
Mr. Michael Cornell
Languages:
  • Swedish (Mother tongue)
  • English (Advanced)
Publication date: 
08/09/2017
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