ROMANIA
Contributing to the sustainable development of ďŹ sheries communities
Danube delta FLAG submits 25 projects for approval Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) are a manifestation of community-led local development, a term used by the European Commission to designate a development strategy that is designed by a community building on its own social, economic, and environmental strengths.
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his kind of community-led development takes into account local needs and potentials and brings together representatives from private and public organisations as well as from civil society into local action groups. It encourages local communities to develop integrated development strategies in response to challenges that call for structural changes. At the same time, it aims to build capacity in the community and stimulate innovation, increase capacity, and foster a sense of involvement and ownership within communities that can increase the efficacy of EU policies. The carrot to design and implement these development strategies is support from the European Structural Funds.
Call for proposals heavily over-subscribed
The area of the FLAG encompasses the entire Danube delta, where over 1,000 small-scale ďŹ shermen make a living.
FLAGs work for the development of fisheries and coastal areas and are supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to create employment, new economic activity, and to improve the quality of life in areas affected by a downturn in fishing activity, or by other circumstances that threaten the viability of fishing communities. The Danube Delta FLAG in Romania includes two geographically distinct areas, the Danube delta and the continental zone. The Danube delta is a world
natural heritage site and home to over 1,000 small-scale fishermen. The area faces challenges, however, related to the environment, lack of infrastructure, insufficient diversification of the economy, and a lack of skilled workers, issues that the FLAG is seeking to address. Members of the FLAG include Tulcea county council, the Danube delta biosphere reserve, three local fisheries associations and one NGO. The FLAG recently opened a call for proposals that was heavily oversubscribed. The
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applications submitted totaled over EUR15m while the support available amounted to EUR7.5m, says Valentin Moldoveanu, the project manager of the FLAG. Of the 112 proposals submitted, 66 were from public beneficiaries, while the rest were from private bodies. The large number of applications reflects a high level of interest in the FLAG and its development strategy, says Mr Moldoveanu, and now some 25 have been selected and sent to the ministry for evaluation.
Mollusc ďŹ shing could reduce pressure on ďŹ n ďŹ sh resources Under the previous programming period (2007-13) the FLAG implemented a number of projects to improve public services such as roads and sewage with the support of the European Fisheries Fund, the predecessor of the EMFF. This time among the projects being supported is one by Ropescador, an association of fishermen, to reduce the pressure on freshwater
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