FLAG Factsheet
The West Mecklenburg Baltic sea coast (WMO) is a largely rural area located on the Baltic sea coast. Open natural areas, idyllic villages, extensive avenues, castles and manor houses dominate the landscape. The economy of this area traditionally consisted of agriculture, the food industry and tourism. The development of the commercial sector is concentrated on a few central areas.
The nearby cities of Lübeck and Schwerin as well as Wismar are commercial centres, which provide employment possibilities for the inhabitants of the region. Nevertheless, the dominance of these centres is the reason the economic sector in the region itself cannot develop. At the same time, a range of services must be offered for the rural areas as well as establishing local recreation to the urban population.
The region is historically influenced and shaped by the fisheries sector. In the past, Wismar was transregionally well known for its small deep-sea fishery and its fish processing industry.
The particular challenge for this area has to do with the deep structural change which the inshore fishery experienced in recent years. The fisheries industry declined because of unattractive working conditions, rising costs for consumables and equipment as well as strict legal guidelines and restrictions in the catching quotas. Compared to 25 years ago, today only 41 out of 130 fishing businesses are still active in the region.
70% of the area is protected, consisting of the bird sanctuary Wismarbucht and the Natural Park Sternberger Seenlandschaft.
Regional (State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
The FLAG has a general interest in cooperating with other FLAGs.
The FLAG shares a legal structure with the local LEADER LAG and their territories overlap. The FLAG also cooperates with other FLAGs nearby.
The FLAG is composed of representatives of public administration as well as stakeholders involved in fisheries, agriculture, tourism, industry, craftsmanship, nature conservation, the employment market, politics and the church.