FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network
FLAG Factsheet
The Raseiniai FLAG is situated in the western part of Lithuania, in the northwest of Kaunas county, 76km northwest of Kaunas city. The territory is carved by rivers, streams and valleys; the rivers Dubysa, Šešuvis, Šaltuona, Mituva flow through the FLAG area. The Dubysa river is particularly popular for nature lovers, rural tourism and kayaking enthusiasts. There are also four lakes and fourteen ponds across in the region.
There are no large industrial facilities in the territory, which is mostly occupied by pastures and cultivated land. Rural enterprise is predominant in the area and there are two big fish processing companies (JSC Norvelita and JSC NS trading). Carp, pike and bream are typically farmed in the ponds, while processing companies tend to be orientated towards salmon, carp and trout production.
A key challenge for the FLAG area is the development of an infrastructure capable of sustaining consistent growth in the area’s growing aquaculture industry. Other challenges for the FLAG are the creation of jobs, increasing employability, and increasing educational levels across the sector.
The FLAG territory has two protected areas, the Dubysa and Tytuvėnai regional parks.
The FLAG strategy will support the promotion of economic development in the area by developing fishing and aquaculture businesses, diversifying activities, establishing markets, creating jobs and increasing employability by raising the qualification levels of those working in the fisheries sector.
Other objectives include conservation, the adaptation and development of the area’s infrastructure in line with the needs of local fisheries enterprises and strengthening the role and position of communities in the FLAG area.
National
Projects examples and ideas for the Raseiniai FLAG will be focused on the following themes:
The FLAG will make regular calls for projects which will be published on the FLAG website:
http://www.raseiniuzvvg.lt/valdybos-posedziu-protokolai-153-moncula.html
The FLAG has experience in infrastructure and tourism activities (experience from 2007-2013 period projects), expertise it is willing to share. The FLAG is interested in transnational cooperation projects related to the promotion of local services and products.
The Vilkauda FLAG is the only CLLD group operating in its territory and there are no links to a LEADER LAG.
The FLAG has 11 members, five of which come from the civil society, three members from the business sector and three members from the local government.