Silver Coast FLAG

Official name:

FLAG Costa d’Argento

Country:

Italy

Region:

Tuscany

Code:

IT-TOS-IT222

Programming period:

2014-2020

Area

The FLAG is situated in the south of the Tuscany Region on the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Tirreno). This region has a long fisheries tradition, nevertheless, the fisheries communities’ population and fleet have been reduced by 50% over the last 30 years. The marine aquaculture in this area also has very ancient roots, dating back to the Etruscans and Romans. Today’s aquaculture production in the FLAG territory accounts for more than 15% of the national total.

The main challenges the FLAG encounters is the involvement of the fisheries communities into innovative activities linked to the cultural heritage of the territory and the modernisation and sustainable development of aquaculture production.

Type of area:

Coastal
Island

Sea Basins:

Mediterranean

Protected areas:

There are four protected areas: “Arcipelago Toscano” National Park covering the islands Giglio and Giannutri, the Orbetello lagoon, the Burano lake and the inland area of the Capalbio municipality.

Population

33 000

Surface area (km²)

499

Population density

Total employment in fisheries

360

Fishing:

260

Aquaculture:

Processing:

Women employment in fisheries:

FLAG strategy

The main objective of the FLAG is to increase the added value of small-scale fisheries. This will be achieved through the following measures:

Developing itti-tourism – tourist services offered by fishermen on land, such as hospitality in fishermen's houses and in seaside villages, local fish restaurants etc.
Supporting sport fishing activities run by fishermen
Introduction of e-commerce systems for local fish products from family businesses

Furthermore, the FLAG will target young people in actions related to the promotion of the historical and cultural heritage linked to fisheries and aquaculture.

Themes:

Objective:

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

Priority:

% of the budget allocated:

38%

Supporting diversification

30%

Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage

32%

Funding

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

1 417 000

EMFF:

708 500
MS co-financing:

708 500
Sources of co-funding:

National and regional

Project examples

Project examples include:

A study on the history of archaeological settlements related to fisheries and aquaculture
Development of cycling paths connecting fisheries and aquaculture sites in the area, integrated with the existing cycling paths EUROVELO and Ciclovia Tirrenica
Support for the sales of local fisheries and aquaculture products “at a distance of 0km” to restaurants
Support for the joint marketing of local products from land and sea
Support for e-commerce and direct sales for local fisheries and aquaculture products of family businesses
Support for processing of fisheries and aquaculture products at family business level
Developing itti-tourism (tourism activities by fishermen on land) and sportive fishing

Calls for proposals

The FLAG will publish calls for projects for specific measures or themes. They will be mostly open calls, unless some selection criteria restrict this to a certain period.

Expertise & cooperation

The FLAG has extensive experience in aquaculture activities (using also brackish waters) and in the production management of coastal lagoons.
The FLAG is interested in gaining experience in the area of fish processing at a family business level, sport fishing, direct product marketing by fishermen, and enhancement of cultural heritage.
Transnational cooperation is being taken into consideration with the Bassin de Thau FLAG in France (Languedoc-Roussillon).

Budget envisaged for cooperation:

70000.00

Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups

The Silver Coast FLAG area overlaps partially with the “Fabbrica Ambiente Rurale Maremma LAG”. Furthermore, the FLAG will coordinate with the Etruscan Coast FLAG in the Tuscany region and with the “The marine villages of Ionian Sea FLAG” in Calabria.

Partnership

Accountable body:

FLAG Costa d'Argento

Members of the partnership:

FLAG members include the four municipalities’ administrations, five fisheries cooperatives and associations, four aquaculture production plants, two fish processing enterprises, five tourism agencies and the University of Grosseto.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly:

% of fisheries actors:

53%

% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors:

29%

Number of individuals on main decision-making body/board:

% of public actors:

33%

Number of contracted staff in FLAG:

2,00

Visuals

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English