FLAG Factsheet
The Aveiro FLAG coincides with the Aveiro lagoon (“Ria de Aveiro”), the biggest lagoon in Portugal (60km long and 25km wide) which is a 'Bird Directive Site' included in the European Natura 2000 network. Several small-scale fishing communities can be found in five municipalities along the coast and lagoon (Ovar, Murtosa, Aveiro, Ílhavo and Vagos). The FLAG area harbours a significant offshore fishing industry as well as a processing industry whose focus is the production of dry salted codfish, providing the bulk of employment in the sector. Fish farms in earthen ponds and bivalve culture on tidal flats are also present. The area also has a commercial port, boat building/repairing and tourism activities.
The main challenges here include job creation, social inclusion, strengthening community associations, economic diversification and addressing environmental challenges. There is also significant potential to improve the tourism marketing of the area.
Natura 2000 Bird Directive Sites - Ria de Aveiro, National Reserve Area – São Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve, Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Site) – Pateira de Fermentelos Lake and Águeda and Cértima Valleys
Objectives of the Aveiro Region FLAG strategy include:
National
Possible cooperation topics:
The FLAG territory overlaps with two LEADER LAGs: The FLAG territory overlaps with two LEADER LAGs: ‘DLBC Rural Região de Aveiro Sul’ and ‘DLBC Rural Região de Aveiro Norte’ but does not share its legal structure with either. The FLAG shares one board member with a LEADER LAG. The FLAG and the LAGs have extensive informal contacts. They are represented on each other’s decision-making boards.
The FLAG partnership is composed of: the municipalities of Ovar, Murtosa, Aveiro, Ílhavo and Vagos, the local dry salted codfish industry organisation, a small-scale fishermen’s organisation, three fishermen’s organisations, an aquaculture producers organisation, the local chamber of commerce and industry, a surfers organisation, two social NGOs, the seaport administration, the national authority for aquatic products and first selling, three institutes of higher education including the local university as well as several private companies involved in aquaculture, shellfish depuration, salt production, tourism, shipyard, canning industry and other sectors connected to fisheries.