South Danube FLAG

Official name:

ASOCIAȚIA GRUPUL DE ACȚIUNE LOCALĂ PENTRU PESCUIT DUNĂREA DE SUD

Country:

Romania

Code:

RO212

Programming period:

2007-2013

2014-2020

Area

The FLAG is a geographically homogeneous area located in the south of Teleorman county on the left bank of the Danube River. There are many rivers, lakes and ponds located here. The main fishing area is located along the 85km long coastline.

Teleorman is one of the poorest counties of Romania - economic activity here is not very well diversified, most of it being concentrated in Alexandria (capital of the county) and the town of Zimnicea. The predominant industries are: food and beverages, textiles, chemicals and mechanical components. Agriculture, both small and large scale remains the main occupation in the county.

The population is aging, outward migration is common and infrastructure and services are very poorly developed and often obsolete. The local fisheries sector presents both challenges and opportunities for development- its potential also being important for other sectors, such as tourism. The local resources related to fishing and the cultural and environmental heritage of the area are prerequisites for local development focusing on the better capitalisation of the area's potential.

Type of area:

Inland
Rural
Urban

Sea Basins:

Rivers and Lakes

Protected areas:

Suhaia Lake, with a surface area of 14.55 km2, (NATURA 2000 - ROSPA 0102);
The Vedea – Danube, with an area of 228.74 km2 (141.82 km2 on the territory of South Danube FLAG) NATURA 2000 site - ROSPA 0108;
Protected area Gura Vedei - Şaica - Slobozia, with a surface of 58.13 km2, NATURA 2000 - ROSCI 0088 site;
The Gâsca Fluvial Island, with an area of 0.58 km2, (this is a Site of Community Importance (SCI), with natural reservation status, declared by Governmental Decision 2151/2004).

Population

39 254

Surface area (km²)

857

Population density

Total employment in fisheries

Fishing:

FLAG strategy

The strategy aims to:

Identify and attract new, sustainable and alternative sources of income (external and local)
Generate jobs and improve the quality of life of individuals and fisheries communities
Promote diversification to complement fishing incomes and create jobs by boosting investment and adding value to local products
Promote the local traditions and culture of the fisheries area

Themes:

Objective:

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

Priority:

% of the budget allocated:

29%

Supporting diversification

29%

Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets

Promoting social wellbeing and cultural heritage

Strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development

29%

Funding

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

1 937 522

EMFF:

1 453 142
MS co-financing:

484 380
Sources of co-funding:

National

Project examples

Landscaping fish ponds
Acquisition of boats and related facilities for tourism, ecotourism, setting up / modernisation of landing points, fishing shelters
Landscaping thematic leisure venues in the FLAG area
Promoting cultural heritage (including traditional gastronomy, folklore etc.) in the FLAG area by organising fairs, festivals, competitions and other events

Calls for proposals

The first call for projects will be launched by the end of 2017. It is estimated that from 2018 there will be two calls each year (March and September) until the FLAG budget is exhausted.

Expertise & cooperation

One of the main objectives of the FLAG is to encourage local authorities and organisations to contribute to the development and visibility of the area. National and transnational cooperation will play an important role for the FLAG, as it is interested in meeting / learning from other FLAGs some new ways of promoting an area, improving skills and delivering concrete results to the community.

Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups

The South Danube FLAG territory partially overlaps with the territory of the South Danube LAG, which is currently implementing a project funded by the NRDP 2014-2020, and the 12 FLAG communes are also part of the LAG.

Over the previous programming period, 47 projects with a total value of €1,732,307 were implemented through the LEADER program, of which 40 projects were implemented in the partner municipalities of the South Danube FLAG.

Partnership

Members of the partnership:

The FLAG consists of 36 partners:

13 public partners, among which 12 are also partners in the South Danube LAG;
20 private partners, of which 3 are active in aquaculture, 10 fishermen and fisheries companies, 7 companies with other fields of activity.
3 representatives of civil society - NGOs, 2 of which are fishermen associations, and one NGO active in the field of environmental protection.

Number of individuals/organisations in partnership/general assembly:

% of fisheries actors:

42%

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

19%

% of environmental actors:

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

% of public actors:

40%

Number of contracted staff in FLAG:

2,00