FLAG Factsheet
The Mariña-Ortegal FLAG is situated in northern Galicia covering 13 municipalities from two provinces. The area includes six estuaries and 16 ports, all of which have some level of fisheries activity. Ten of the ports have fish auctions, while four also have marinas.
The service and construction sectors are the largest source of employment but the fishing industry, of which wholesale is the main activity, is still an important contributor to the local economy, accounting for around 9% of total employment.
Challenges:
There are 16 protected areas, covering a total of 9 118 ha, almost 8% of the area. This includes: 11 Special Areas of Conservation (As Catedrais, Costa Ártabra, Costa de la Mariña Occidental, Estaca de Bares, Monte Mayor, Ortigueira-Mera, Ría de Foz-Masma, Río Eo, Río Landro, Río Ouro, Sierra del Xistral) and five Special Protection Areas (Costa de la Mariña-Occidental, Costa de Ferrolterra-Valdoviño, Ría de Foz, Ría de Ortigueira y Ladrido, Ría de Ribadeo).
The FLAG’s strategy aims to respond to the challenges of the area by focusing on a number of specific objectives. Efforts will focus on improving the competitiveness of the fisheries sector, creating jobs and attracting young people into the sector. This will mainly be achieved by adding value to fisheries products and stimulating innovation at all stages of the supply chain.
By involving different social actors in local development, and by supporting greater participation of the fisheries and maritime sectors in local governance, new economic activities linked to blue growth and the wider maritime sector will be initiated. Training and support for innovation will help to stimulate new businesses. The ultimate aim, however, is to create employment.
The FLAG also aims to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and cultural heritage as part of an overall plan to brand the region as an attractive touristic destination.
Projects approved to date can be found at here (in Spanish).
Every year there will be a call for project proposals with a deadline of the 1st of March. If the budget of this call is not exhausted, a second call will be organised, with a deadline of the 1st of September (except in 2020, when there will be no second call, in order to ensure the programme is closed on time).
The FLAG territory overlaps with that of two LEADER LAGs: A Mariña and Costa Noroeste.
The FLAG acts independently but shares certain board members with the LAGs. Common partners include the 13 municipalities from the general assembly (public sector) and various associations representing the economic, social and environmental sectors (17 in total).
The FLAG coordinates its work informally with both LEADER LAGs.
LAG and FLAG staff have frequent informal exchanges and information given to potential project promotors covers both programmes.
There is no common strategy but the draft versions of the LAG strategies were also adapted to be more in line with the already approved FLAG strategy.
The board consists of:
This information is independent from the consultation of environmental actors during the elaboration of the local development strategy.