FLAG Factsheet
The Nord FLAG consists of the countries’ two northernmost municipalities and contains about 200km of coastline. The FLAG area has Denmark’s largest landings of pelagic fish. It’s no surprise, therefore, that this is an area with widespread fisheries activities in terms of employment, leisure and tourism.
For generations, the population in the area has made a living directly from fishing, or related activities. Today the coast is also an attractive holiday destination and there is great potential in the further development of coastal tourism on both the east and west coasts. It also has potential for becoming an attractive settlement area, which can help to counteract challenges related to a declining population and the decreasing public service provision and lack of political investments that can follow this.
The area includes around ten Natura 2000 sites: the largest one of these is located in the sea at the northern coastline of the Hjørring and Frederikshavn municipalities. The main inland Natura 2000 areas are located in the northern part of the Frederikshavn municipality where we can also find a Ramsar area.
The FLAG strategy seeks to maintain the leading position of the area in the fishing and maritime industries and to develop and maintain jobs.
Another aim is to support existing, and develop new maritime businesses, especially those working with value optimisation and the processing of fisheries products. Furthermore, it is hoped to develop the tourism potential of the area, including linking tourism with fisheries and maritime activities.
National
FLAG Nord has supported a project in a firm that develops equipment for delousing salmon on mari-culture installations. The aid went to the renovation of a building and purchase of an overhead crane.
Three deadlines for applications are set each year (January, March and August indicatively), and applicants must apply electronically on the Danish PROMIS system (promis.erst.dk/). This system is managed by the National Managing Authority and collects applications from all Danish LAGs and FLAGs.
Currently, no particular cooperation budget is set, nor are any specific cooperation projects described in the strategy.
The FLAG territory overlaps with a rural LAG territory (LAG Nord covering the municipalities of Brønderslev, Hjørring and Frederikshavn), and the LAG and FLAG share one board member.
The North Denmark Region has made an office and meeting room available in the administration building. Two to three times a month, the LAG and FLAG-coordinators from the area work from there and exchange experiences, which means that there is a close cooperation between the LAG and the FLAG. There is, however, no formalised cooperation involving other board members.
The board consists of partners from industrial organisations, fishermen’s organisations, fishermen, a business house, the banking sector, a hotel, and local associations.