Opole Region FLAG

Official name:

Rybacka Lokalna Grupa Działania "Opolszczyzna"

Country:

Poland

Region:

Opole Voivodeship

Code:

PL235

Programming period:

2007-2013

2014-2020

Area

The area covers 11 municipalities and is located in the basin of the Odra river and its tributaries: the Nysa Kłodzka, the Mała Panew and the Stobrawa. The area is largely rural and has strong links with the fishing tradition. There are many active fishermen and NGOs dealing with fisheries culture, history, promotion of local fish products and education. There are 24 fish farms, most of them small-scale, mainly producing carp (1830 tons per year). Fish farms provide about 100 permanent jobs. Fish production has very high seasonality which has an impact on the area’s economy. A new opportunity is the growing interest of local bars and restaurants in offering locally produced fish, and the Niemodlin carp has been recognised as a traditional product by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The main challenges in the area are:

The area is very quickly depopulating and the level of unemployment is particularly high among women and young people.
The fishing sector needs more diversified sources of income and better production conditions.
The area’s environment and productive potential needs to be maintained and protected.

Type of area:

Inland
Rural

Sea Basins:

Black Sea
Rivers and Lakes

Protected areas:

There are various types of protected areas, including one landscape park, two areas of protected landscape and several NATURA 2000 areas.

Population

97 857

Surface area (km²)

1 522

Population density

Total employment in fisheries

100

Aquaculture:

Processing:

Women employment in fisheries:

FLAG strategy

The FLAG would first of all like to improve the conditions for business development, both within and outside the fishing sector (tourism, gastronomy, education and promotional activities). The fish producers need better infrastructure, equipment, and technology. The FLAG is also planning to carry out informative and educational activities concerning the history, tradition and economics of fish production and to promote the environmental assets of the area.

Two main objectives have been defined in the strategy:

improving the competitiveness of sustainable and innovative fisheries businesses using local assets (investing in fish farm, supporting job creation and diversification, promoting local products),
maintaining, protecting and promoting the fisheries and aquaculture assets of the area (maintaining productive potential and the environment, investing in centres promoting education, tradition and culture related to fisheries).

Themes:

Objective:

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

Priority:

% of the budget allocated:

28%

Supporting diversification

13%

Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets

20%

Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage

33%

Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development

Funding

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

4 000 000

EMFF:

3 400 000
MS co-financing:

600 000
Sources of co-funding:

National
Funds:

Other(s)

Project examples

Organisation of short supply chain, especially improving or creating direct sales points, small-scale local production and processing. It will involve fish gutting equipment, smokery, cooling equipment, fish containers, specialist vehicles to transport both live and processed fish.
Organisation of promotional and educational events, e.g. conference for fishermen, open air lessons, Carp Festival.

Good Practice

Joint promotion for increasing local incomes

Calls for proposals

Call for projects will start in 2017 and will be organised twice a year. The first one is expected to be launched in March 2017.

Information will be available on the website.

Website:

http://www.lgropolszczyzna.pl

Expertise & cooperation

The FLAG has experience in organising promotional events, integrating with the local community, and co-operating with local institutions in joint initiatives. The FLAG is interested in themes such as education and promotion and would like to cooperate with neighbouring LAGs, other Polish FLAGs and with partners abroad (in particular from Germany).

The FLAG has been involved in the following cooperation initiatives:

Regional education – a Polish-German project involving FLAGs from southern Poland and the Bavarian FLAG Tirschenreuth.
Promoting local products – local project in cooperation with a nearby LEADER LAG.
Exchange of experience and educating fishermen (cooperation of 12 FLAGs across Poland).

Budget envisaged for cooperation:

150000.00

Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups

In the Opole region, there are no multifunded groups. There are five LEADER LAGs covering the area of the FLAG (Stobrawski Zielony Szlak, Dolina Stobrawy, Kraina Dinozaurów, Brzesko-Oławska Wieś Historyczna, Partnerstwo Borów Niemodlińskich). Each group has its own strategy. The FLAG cooperates with all the 13 LAGs of the region and is member of the informal Opole Regional LAG Network. It also has a cooperation project for local fish promotion planned with a neighbouring LAG.

Partnership

Accountable body:

Rybacka Lokalna Grupa Działania 'Opolszczyzna'

Members of the partnership:

Public sector: municipalities of Lewin Brzeski, Niemodlin, Tułowice, Świerczów, Pokój, Popielów, Murów, Ozimek, Turawa, Zębowice,Lasowice Wielkie, Łubniany, Regional Agricultural Extension Centre in Łosiów.
Social sector: Polish Anglers’ Association (Opole branch), Voluntary Fire Brigade in Pokój, Pokój Association, Anglers’ Club in Turawa, DELTA – Jurapark Association in Krasiejów, Individuals.
Economic sector: fish farms, local restaurant, fish wholesaler, fish frying bars, angling sites, holiday centres.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly:

% 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:

31%

Number of contracted staff in FLAG:

2,00