FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network
FLAG Factsheet
The area of the local action group "Vilkauda" is located in a wide geographical area of the country and includes the southern, south-eastern and eastern territories with different traditions and conditions of natural and cultural heritage and fisheries development. The natural environment of the FLAG area creates conditions for the development of recreational tourism, including amateur fishing and the creation of recreational areas. The abundance of cultural monuments, the rich resources of water bodies and forests and the eye-catching landscapes typical for the region, attracts many tourists and nature enthusiasts; therefore, new recreational centres, rural tourism farmsteads, tourism routes are being created and various tourist services are provided.
The FLAG area is developing aquaculture activities. The following species are grown in the FLAGs aquaculture farms: carp, pikeperch, white amour, sturgeon, and trout.
The FLAG area has abundant water resources, a historic experience and traditions in fish farming ponds and fishing in inland waters. In order to successfully develop these areas of activity, in particular, ways to increase the competitiveness of the fisheries sector should be developed in the FLAG territory. It is important to look for new markets for local products. In the aquaculture industry, the economic situation is worsening, the chain of value added is not developed and lacks product processing and storage infrastructure. FLAG faces increasing animal welfare, environmental requirements, and infrastructure adaptation to changing sanitary requirements. The qualitative development and variety of the production assortment, reduction of production costs is important by facing challenges of the FLAG. The carried out researches have shown that it is necessary to upgrade hydro technical structures, technical park, modernize water supply systems in order to improve the sanitary conditions of fish farming and reduce the negative impact on the environment. New technology would contribute to lowering production costs and reducing natural pollution.
The FLAG area like most of Lithuania is facing the negative impacts of outward migration and aging. Rapid decrease of the population up to 40 years old threatens the supply of labour resources and the demographic balance of the FLAG.
The FLAG territory includes the Labanoras, Asveja and Dieveniškiai regional parks which are part of the Natura 2000 network under the bird and habitat protection directives.
The FLAG strategy will support increasing the competitiveness of aquaculture and fisheries by improving technology and equipment, diversifying economic activity and job creation.
It will also support productive investments in aquaculture and processing as well as marketing tools and adapting the infrastructure to the needs of the fishing industry and society by improving the social well-being of the FLAG region and raising the qualifications of the fishery sector.
National
FLAG already have approved projects related to:
FLAG would also provide support to projects related to productive investments in aquaculture and processing and promotion of human capital and cooperation in networks.
There will be calls for projects, first calls for fisheries and aquaculture activities are planned in the first quarter of 2018.
Website for calls:
The Vilkauda FLAG is the only sectoral FLAG operating in its territory. No connections are kept with other CLLD groups in FLAG territory.
The 18 members of the FLAGs are divided between civil society (7 members - 38.89%) business (7 members, 38.89%) and local government (4 members, 22.22%).