Society and culture

Through a series of inter-connected activities and innovative methods of quality management, a FLAG builds the capacity of local businesses, including fish farmers, restaurants, educational and recreational service providers, and encourages them to cooperate.

Sectors in the blue economy are facing challenges (e.g. lack of skills locally, shortage of funding...) that prevent the growth of those emerging work areas with high potential. The "Blue Economy Incubator" project aims to promote innovative solutions addressing selected maritime and marine challenges and opportunities.

On Ærø Island, a disused boat engine factory has been turned into a community hub supporting local maritime entrepreneurship. The project aims to boost the island’s economy and social cohesion.

The Mostiștea river is a tributary of the river Danube in Romania. The river source is near the village Dascălu, northeast of Bucharest and it flows into the Danube near Mânăstirea. The local economy of the area is predominantly agricultural. Fisheries and aquaculture activities are small-scale and often combined with agri-tourism and recreational activities.

The FLAG territory is in the northwest of Constanta County. In the centre of the territory is the city of Harsova which is surrounded by the four communes of Ghindaresti, Horia, Topalu and Crucea. The area situated between the Danube and the Black Sea is characterised by rolling hills and is steeped in history.

The FLAG area is situated along the river Olt. In the territory are ten urban and rural communes which all have small-scale fisheries and aquaculture industries. Other activities such as agriculture, chemical production, forestry, food and tourism dominate the local economy. Local handicrafts are recognised and sold nationwide.

The FLAG is predominantly located in rural areas where activities such as agriculture and fishing are commonplace. The region is situated between Siret and Prut, in the north-east part of Romania. The territory boarders Ukraine in the north and Moldova in the east. At the west and south it has borders with the Suceava and Iași Counties.

The operation of Hästholmen harbour involves the cooperation of several local actors. Through a series of FLAG projects, the port has been improved and developed in accordance with the local community’s needs and opportunities.

This project shows how to bring together preservation of cultural heritage with present needs of fishermen.

Local fisheries communities from France, Italy and Tunisia will be sharing ideas on sustainable economic diversification, thanks to a new cooperation project run by the Etruscan Coast FLAG in Tuscany (IT).