Integrated coastal management

With its 460km of coastline, made up of harbours, bays, cliffs and long beaches, the West Normandy FLAG area has a wealth of coastal resources. It is an area with an important primary sector and a high production of fish and shellfish.

The Bohuslän region is strongly linked to the oceans and fisheries which have for more than 500 years been a source of sustenance and livelihood for local inhabitants. At the same time, seasonal dwellers, tourists and other visitors enjoy the fantastic landscape where fishing and environmental concerns are paramount.

Halland is a coastal area characterised by many sandy beaches, rockfaces, lakes and rivers. In the northern part of the FLAG area is the archipelago, which is largely protected by nature reserves.

The Barlavento do Algarve FLAG area is in the southwest of Portugal and has strong links to the sea in terms of both fishing and tourism. The main challenges for the FLAG include the sustainable re-establishment of small-scale fisheries in the area which suffered from the impacts of sectoral restructuring at national and community level over the past two decades.

The FLAG area is situated on the Atlantic coast and has a strong maritime history and attractive environment. With cities such as La Rochelle and the island of Ré, the area is a stronghold for marine tourism, blue growth and maritime economy.

The FLAG area covers the region of the northern part of the Amvrakikos gulf and the Ionian Sea in the Preveza prefecture. The area is well known for its environmental richness and hosts both a RAMSAR wetlands protection area and multiple Natura 2000 sites. Numerous avifauna, mammals, fish and vertebrate species are found here.

The FLAG area covers 262 203 square kilometres and 3.55% of its population is employed in fisheries or aquaculture. In the region, maricultural activities are extensive and intensive. This includes the farming of seafood species such as bream and sea bass.

The FLAG is located at the North-Eastern side of the Calabria region, close to the Gulf of Taranto. The area has important fish landing ports, fish processing enterprises and significant tourism potential, however there are challenges here linked to poor integration between sectors especially poor linkages between traditional fishing activities and tourism.

The FLAG area plays host to many important fisheries activities (including more than 60% of Greek mussel production). The main advantage the area has is its proximity to the large market of that the city of Thessaloniki offers. In general, however, fisheries here remain mostly small-scale.

The FLAG area is typical of Northern Brittany, combining a succession of rocky coastline, bays, river estuaries and marshes, as well as coastal towns strongly connected to a dynamic maritime environment. A great variety of ecosystems and scenery compose this area which is greatly influenced by the strong tides and harshness of the sea.