Lanzerote FLAG

Official name:

ADERLAN - Lanzerote

Country:

Spain

Region:

Canary Islands

Code:

ES235

Programming period:

2014-2020

Area

Lanzarote, also known as “the island of volcanos”, is made up of seven municipalities and a small archipelago to the north of the island (Chinijo Archipelago). The whole area has been classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The local economy has suffered great changes since the 70s when the majority of the population worked in the primary sector, made up of small-scale and coastal fishing, as well as agriculture. Since then, the primary sector has lost its key role in the economy, pushed out by tourism and the service sector in general.

The increasing demand for action tourism has led to an increase in sporting activities linked to the coast, such as diving excursions, kayaking, surfing etc. The growth of such marine tourism is providing a wealth of new opportunities from the island’s marine resources while the fisheries sector struggles to retain its place in the local economy.

Type of area:

Coastal
Island

Sea Basins:

Atlantic

Protected areas:

More than 40% of the surface area of Lanzarote enjoys some type of protected status, including the island’s recognition as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a “Geo-park”. The island of Graciosa and the small islands in the North (70 000 hectares) are also classified as a Marine Reserve of fisheries interest – the largest in Spain.

Population

143 209

Surface area (km²)

900

Population density

169

Total employment in fisheries

194

FLAG strategy

The FLAG’s strategy aims to:

Achieve a shared vision of territorial cohesion for the sustainable development of the fisheries and marine sector of Lanzarote which fosters self-sufficiency of activities
Improve the tools for achieving this vision and sustainable economic growth.
Provide the human, technological and economic resources to develop these tools.

In order to reach these goals, the FLAG has the following objectives:

Incentivising and improving the processing, marketing and promotion of local fisheries products.
Sustainable exploitation of local resources
Preserving, restoring and valorising cultural, historic and environmental heritage.
Improving qualifications and strengthening local human resources.
Supporting the renewal of marine fisheries and aquaculture to boost employment and entrepreneurship.

Themes:

Objective:

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

Priority:

Supporting diversification

Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets

Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage

Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development

Funding

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

639 665

EMFF:

490 000
MS co-financing:

149 667
Sources of co-funding:

Regional
Funds:

EAFRD

Project examples

Fostering business diversification such as the creation of local fish processing companies
Projects to develop direct marketing between fisheries organisations and the final consumer.

Expertise & cooperation

The FLAG is interested in cooperating around the following themes:

Marine conservation
Promoting fisheries and maritime cultural heritage as a tourist resource.

Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups

ADERLAN, the association for rural and fisheries development of Lanzerote, acts as both LEADER LAG and FLAG for Lanzerote. As such the two programmes are closely coordinated – even though each has a separate local development strategy. There is a common General Assembly for the development association, but the FLAG has a specific decision-making board that selects fisheries-related projects.

Partnership

Members of the partnership:

The FLAG’s General Assembly includes 41 partners ranging from fishing organisations and Producer Organisation, agricultural stakeholders, local public administrations and tourism operatators to cultural and social associations, an SME federation, neighbourhood associations and private companies.

Of these, representatives from three fishing organisations (“cofradías”), three town halls, the provincial government and four associations (cultural/gastronomy, social, women and agricultural) make up the decision-making board.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly:

% of fisheries actors:

15%

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

61%

% of environmental actors:

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

% of public actors:

44%

Number of contracted staff in FLAG:

2,00