FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network
FLAG Factsheet
The Tramuntana FLAG covers five local self-government units: Senj, Karlobag, Lopar, Rab and Novalja. The units are situated in the counties of Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Lika-Senj. Karlobag and Senj are coastal areas and the regions of Lopar, Novalja and Rab are located inland. The FLAG area is characterised by a rich and diverse natural heritage, where visitors can enjoy activities at an altitude of 924m and sandy beaches, all on the same day.
There are 18 landing sites across the area, most prominent of which is Novalja. The FLAG area has 814 fishing boats registered for commercial fishing (nearly all of them under 12m in length). Common catches are cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish and squid), hake, whiting, red mullet and shrimp.
Key challenges for the FLAG are a lack of adequate space and infrastructure for fishing boats, a lack of distribution channels and processing facilities for local fish, insufficient promotion of fisheries in tourism activities and issues associated with the seasonality of tourism.
The FLAG covers 15 protected areas, a total of 2230 km2. There are seven special reserves, one strict reserve, one national park, one nature park, three significant landscapes under protection, one horticultural monument and one forest park. It's important to mention the UNESCO-protection in LAGUR's TRAMUNTANA area. The Velebit mountain area is a world biosphere reserve under the protection of UNESCO. The beech forests in the North Velebit National Park are nominated for selection as a UNESCO world heritage site.
The FLAG strategy has the flowing central objectives:
Adding value to fisheries and aquaculture products and encouraging innovation along the entire value chain, including direct sales and short food supply chains.
Diversifying business activities in the area by developing fisheries-related tourism.
Strengthening the image and awareness of the fisheries area in consumers and tourists.
Promoting the sustainable development and valorisation of local resources and products.
National
Project examples and ideas for the FLAG include:
FLAG will have specific deadlines when it makes calls for projects. More information can be found on the FLAG website
The FLAG is newly established and therefore has limited thematic expertise and experience in cooperation projects. The FLAG is interested in cooperation projects associated with developing and promoting tourism, branding local products and gastronomy with other FLAGs in the Mediterranean. The FLAG cooperates informally with the other Croatian FLAGs, sharing information and good practices.
FLAG Tramuntana has overlap with the Lika LEADER LAG in Senj and Karlobag and the Mentorides LEADER LAG in Novalja, Rab and Lopar. However, the FLAG and two LAGs have their own local development strategies. The groups cooperate informally, exchanging information and developing common projects.
Members of the FLAG include the five municipalities (Novalja, Senj, Rab, Lopar and Karlobag), four fisheries businesses, one environmental organisation and three NGOs.