Swansea Bay FLAG evaluation report

Swansea Council

Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group Baseline Report – Final May 2020

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Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group Baseline Report – Final

May 2020

Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group

Swansea Council

Document Information Document History and Authorisation Title

Commissioned by Issue date Document ref Project no

Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group Baseline Report – Final Swansea Council May 2020 R.3378 R/4799/1

06/03/2020 22/04/2020 12/05/2020

1 2 3

Date

Version

Prepared (PM) C. A. Roberts

Revision Details

Issued as working version for client review Issued for client sign off Issue for client use

Approved (QM) S. C. Hull

Authorised (PD) S. F. Walmsley

Suggested Citation

ABPmer, (2020). Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group, Baseline Report – Final, ABPmer Report No. R.3378. A report produced by ABPmer for Swansea Council, May 2020.

Contributing Authors

Caroline Roberts; Suzannah Walmsley

Notice

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Contents 1

Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1

2

FLAG Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 2

3

Programme Administration ................................................................................................... 3

4

Project Outcomes ...................................................................................................................... 5

5

FLAG Expenditure ...................................................................................................................... 8

6

Stakeholder Feedback ............................................................................................................. 9

7

References ................................................................................................................................. 10

8

Abbreviations/Acronyms ..................................................................................................... 10

3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2

Administration ..............................................................................................................................................3 Procurement Process .................................................................................................................................4 FLAG Projects ................................................................................................................................................5 Contribution to FLAG Objectives ..........................................................................................................7

Appendices A

Programme Administration ................................................................................................ 22

B

FLAG Objectives and the Procurement Process .......................................................... 26

C

FLAG-Funded Project Outcomes ...................................................................................... 29

D

Project Contributions to FLAG Objectives ..................................................................... 31

E

FLAG Expenditure ................................................................................................................... 33

F

Stakeholder Consultation on FLAG Effectiveness and Relevance ......................... 35

A.1 A.2 A.3 B.1 B.2 B.3 B.4

F.1

Background ................................................................................................................................................ 22 FLAG Vision................................................................................................................................................. 22 FLAG structure and administration ................................................................................................... 22

The application process ......................................................................................................................... 26 Eligibility criteria for FLAG funding ................................................................................................... 26 Activities and costs which are ineligible for FLAG funding ..................................................... 27 The Swansea Bay FLAG Communication Plan............................................................................... 28

Summary...................................................................................................................................................... 36

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Tables Table 1.

Table 2.

Table 3.

Table 4.

Table 5.

Table 6.

Tabl 7.

Tabl 8.

Table A1.

Table B1.

Table C1.

Table C2.

Table D1.

Table E1.

Table E2.

Swansea Bay FLAG Local Development Strategy Themes and Objectives ........................... 2 Composition of Swansea Bay FLAG members (as of 31st January 2020) .............................. 4 Status of FLAG-funded projects (as of 31st January 2020) ..........................................................6 Food festival projects in the Swansea Bay FLAG area, funded through the Menter A Busnes Scheme (as of 31st January 2020) .......................................................................6 LDS objectives being delivered by the projects completed/approved up to 31st January 2020 .................................................................................................................................................7 FLAG project expenditure up to 31st January 2020 by activity type ....................................... 8 Amcanion y Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol a gyflawnir gan y prosiectau a gwblhawyd neu a gymeradwywyd hyd at 31 Ionawr 2020 ..................................................... 18 Gwariant ar brosiectau’r FLAG hyd at 31 Ionawr 2020, yn ôl gweithgaredd .................... 19 Composition of Swansea Bay FLAG members (as of 31st January 2020) ........................... 24 Swansea Bay FLAG Local Development Strategy Themes and Objectives ........................ 26 Status of FLAG funded projects (as of 31st January 2020) ....................................................... 30 Food festival projects in the Swansea Bay FLAG area, funded through the Menter A Busnes Scheme (as of 31st January 2020)................................................................... 30 LDS objectives being delivered by the projects completed/approved up to 31st January 2020 .............................................................................................................................................. 31 Status of FLAG-funded projects (as of 31st January 2020) ....................................................... 34 FLAG project expenditure up to 31st January 2020 by activity type .................................... 34

Figures Figure A1.

Figure E1.

Number of attendees at Swansea Bay FLAG meetings since 2017 ...................................... 25 FLAG budget by type .............................................................................................................................. 33

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Introduction

The Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) was originally established as a local partnership in 2012 in response to opportunities opened up through Union Priority 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) between 2007-2013. The Swansea Bay FLAG was one of four FLAGs established in Wales 1, and during the 2007-2013 funding period, covered the Local Authority Areas of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018).

Further to successfully overseeing the implementation of the EFF 2007-2013 funding in Swansea Bay, the Swansea Bay FLAG has continued to administer a second period of funding under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) between 2014-2020.

The aim of this report is to establish the baseline situation, with regard to the Swansea Bay FLAG’s structure, procurement processes, project expenditure, project outcomes and progress towards the FLAG’s objectives, between the start of the EMFF funding phase and up to 31st of January 2020. This will feed in to the final programme evaluation in 2021. In particular the baseline evaluation has sought to identify any programme constraints to the FLAG achieving its objectives and, if identified, make recommendations as to how these may be addressed within the remaining funding phase.

This report contains the following sections:      

1

Section 1: Introduction (this section) Section 2: FLAG objectives Section 3: Programme administration Section 4: Project outcomes Section 5: FLAG expenditure Section 6: Key issues

The other FLAGS established in Wales are the North Wales FLAG, Cardigan Bay FLAG and the Pembrokeshire FLAG

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FLAG Objectives

The FLAG’s vision for Swansea Bay is “By 2020 we want to see successful, sustainable, economically viable local fishing and associated industries, aware of its heritage and well equipped to meet current and future challenges.”

To help achieve this vision, The Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Development Strategy (LDS) was updated for the current funding phase (2014-2020) informed by a Fishing Industry Research Study in 2015 and the feedback from consultation with stakeholders in September 2016. The key issues identified were translated into the themes and objectives shown in Table 1.

Table 1.

Swansea Bay FLAG Local Development Strategy Themes and Objectives

Theme Theme 1: Adding value, creating jobs, attracting young people and promoting innovations at all stages of the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products

Theme 2: Supporting diversification inside or outside commercial fisheries, lifelong learning and job creation in fisheries and aquaculture areas Theme 3: Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets of the fisheries and aquaculture areas, including operations to mitigate climate change

Theme 4: Promoting social well-being and cultural heritage in fisheries and aquaculture areas, including fisheries, aquaculture and maritime cultural heritage Theme 5: Local development and the governance of local fisheries resources and maritime activities

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Objectives Objective 1: Improve links with other local food and other producers Objective 2: Achieve better links with schools and colleges to encourage young people to help develop the sector Objective 3: Support delivery of small-scale infrastructure projects to encourage sustainable growth of the industry Objective 4: Creation of opportunities for networking, marketing and promotion of local industry, including supply-chain opportunities Objective 5: Provision of support for trying out new processes or adding value to products to help small companies in the fishing industry to grow Objective 6: Support for business to identify diversification opportunities and re-skill within or outside the sector Objective 7: Provision of opportunities to develop the tourism sector linked to local fisheries, including pescatourism, eco-tourism and tourist facilities Objective 8: Identification and development of alternative sources of income for the fishing industry such as renewable energy Objective 9: Making the most of the local natural environment Objective 10: Sustainable and balanced development of the heritage and tourism aspects of the coastline Objective 11: Support for the promotion of cultural heritage, aquaculture and maritime interests Objective 12: To further engage communities and local representatives to support and promote the local industry

Source: Swansea Bay FLAG LDS (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018)

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Programme Administration

3.1

Administration

Swansea Council

The Swansea Bay FLAG is administrated by Swansea Council as the Lead Body, and steered by FLAG members comprising representatives from community, private and public local socio-economic interests.

3.1.1

Lead Body

As the Lead Body, Swansea Council undertake programme and project management, financial and administrative functions, technical appraisal of grant applications and the submission of claims for funding to the Welsh Government (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018). The FLAG administration is undertaken by three staff: 1.

2.

3.

3.1.2

Animator (1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)): encourages and facilitates individuals and groups within the FLAG area to submit project applications that contribute to the FLAG strategy, supporting and monitoring applicants from idea development through to implementation and delivery. The animator is also responsible for managing the budget, providing quarterly FLAG updates to the Economic Development & External Funding Team, the Planning and Regeneration department as well as regular updates to Welsh Government.

Finance officer (0.25 FTE): handles budget queries, statements, any claims, liaises with the Welsh Government to update their systems, handles day-to-day running costs, rules and guidance.

Assistant (0.25 FTE): assists with procurement, ordering goods, setting up meetings, taking minutes, liaising with applicants and general administration.

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has responsibility for undertaking a final eligibility check on project proposals selected by the FLAG, prior to formal approval being issued. This involves checking that the proposal meets the eligibility criteria within the EMFF guidance and regulations, that the costs are calculated correctly and that the procurement has been conducted correctly. If the proposal and procurement is compliant, confirmation of the funding offer is issued.

The FLAG can receive up to a maximum of 10% of the maximum EMFF budget (£380,000) to cover running costs and up to 15% for animation activity (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018). The budget allocation for administering the Swansea Bay FLAG during the EMFF funding phase (as of 31st January 2020) is described further in Appendix E. Information obtained through consultation undertaken for this evaluation indicated that in 2020 there would be a re-profile of the Swansea Bay FLAG’s budget due to changes in guidance issued by the Welsh Government. These changes had not occurred at the time of writing this report and any budget changes with regard to administrating the Swansea Bay FLAG will be described in the final evaluation report (2021).

Within the Welsh Government, there is a team of three staff involved in the EMFF application process, including approval, appraisal and financial management of FLAG projects. An Implementation Manager is the main point of contact for the FLAG Lead Body, to discuss applications, eligibility (of potential projects for funding) and any queries. Project reviews are undertaken once a project is delivered, or if selected for inspection. FLAG funding claims are processed by staff within a different team.

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3.1.3

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FLAG Members

As of 31st January 2020, the Swansea Bay Flag membership comprised 11 private sector members and 5 public sector members (see Table 2). The Swansea Bay FLAG LDS states that the FLAG should meet at least quarterly. Between July 2017 and January 2020, ten FLAG meetings have been held. The number of FLAG member attendees has ranged between 4 and 13 and all meetings have been attended by at least one public and one private sector representative.

Table 2.

Composition of Swansea Bay FLAG members (as of 31st January 2020)

Interest Type Private

Public

Sector Individual (Marine Biologist) Commercial Fisherman (Burry Port) Director, Swansea Port Health Services Volunteer South and West Wales Fishing Communities representative Swansea Bay Tourism Natural Resources Wales Mumbles Development Trust Local Aquaculture Production Business Local Aquaculture Production Business Seafish Swansea Environment Forum BCBC Bridgend Rural Development (REACH) BCBC Bridgend Rural Development (REACH) Marine Biologist Economic Advisor

Source: Data provided by the Swansea Bay FLAG Lead Body, 15 January 2020

3.2 Procurement Process The application process for EMFF funding via the FLAG comprises two stages: i) ii)

Submission of a Project Idea Form (PIF); and, if approved by the FLAG Submission of a full application.

The Welsh Government EMFF 2014-2020 FLAG Guidance Notes (Welsh Government, 2018) state that if the activity (project) can be clearly demonstrated as supporting the achievement of the objectives of EMFF and the aims of the LDS (Table 1) then it will be deemed to be eligible.

The Guidance Notes (Welsh Government, 2018) also set out the activities and costs which are not eligible for FLAG funding. As of the 31st January 2020, this included capital expenditure for items with a value of over ÂŁ10,000 and/or a useful life of over one year. This restriction is a key difference between the current funding phase (EMFF; 2014-2020) and the previous funding phase (EFF; 20072014) in which capital expenditure was eligible.

To promote the EMFF funding opportunities available and highlight the support available for individuals and groups to present projects that contribute to the Swansea Bay FLAG LDS, the Swansea Bay FLAG developed and implemented a communication plan. Engagement methods have included social media campaigns via the Swansea Bay FLAG website and Facebook page, newsletters and the development of a Swansea Bay FLAG booklet. FLAG funded events are promoted to the public and local communities through multiple channels including social media, local newspapers, leaflets and posters.

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Project Outcomes

4.1

FLAG Projects

Swansea Council

Table 3 lists the projects that have been awarded funding from the Swansea Bay FLAG or that are currently awaiting approval (as of 31st January 2020). The projects are described in detail in Appendix C. In contrast to the original EFF funding programme, the FLAG is not able to award EMFF funding for the delivery of food festivals. Applicants wanting to deliver food festivals have been signposted to the Menter a Busnes (MAB) scheme. Table 4lists the projects that have been delivered in the Swansea Bay FLAG area which received funding through MAB (as of 31st January 2020).

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Table 3.

Swansea Council

Status of FLAG-funded projects (as of 31st January 2020) FLAG Funding (£) 7,055

Project

Activity Type

Seafood cookery demonstrations at Swansea market

Seafood Festival

Swansea Bay and Gower native oyster survey Fish is the dish

Feasibility

Burry Port Auction House Feasibility Study

Feasibility

8,000

Pontoon on River Tawe Feasibility Study

Feasibility

4,999

Table 4.

Event

4,999 61,939

Status

Description

Complete

Seafood cookery demonstrations held in Swansea Market in September 2019 over a 5-day period. Additional funding of £1,796 was received from MAB Seafood Festival Fund (Seafood Market Development and Growth Project; see Table 4).

Survey of the wild native oyster population in Swansea Bay and along the Gower coast to establish the current status of native oysters.

Fish is the Dish 2020 project will focus on raising awareness of local seafood, sustainability issues, and the health benefits of seafood amongst primary school students aged 9-11 years old. Anticipated to commence delivery in Spring 2020.

Complete Funding approved – procuring a food consultant to deliver Awaiting approval from Welsh Government Awaiting approval from Welsh Government

Feasibility study for establishing a Fish Auction site on Burry Port harbour and online.

A scoping/feasibility study for a proposed landing stage at the Liberty Stadium.

Food festival projects in the Swansea Bay FLAG area, funded through the Menter A Busnes Scheme (as of 31st January 2020)

Project

Activity Type

Mumbles oyster festival

Festival

Seafood Cookery Demonstrations

Festival

FLAG Funding (£) 993.40 1,220.10

Status

Description

Complete

Festival celebration of the heritage of the Mumbles Oyster and inshore fisheries of Mumbles, Gower and Swansea Bay. Delivered in October 2019.

Seafood cookery demonstrations held in Swansea Market, September 2019 (as described in Table 3). The additional MAB funding of £1,220.10 was spent on marketing and promotional materials.

Complete

Source Table 3 andTable 4: Swansea Bay FLAG website and data provided by Lead Body, February 2020.

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4.2 Contribution to FLAG Objectives The assessment of the objectives that projects contribute to is undertaken by the Swansea Bay FLAG Lead Body when project applications are received. Table 5 highlights which objectives are being delivered by completed or approved FLAG projects as of 31st January 2020.

Table 5.

LDS objectives being delivered by the projects completed/approved up to 31st January 2020 Theme 1

Project

Objective

2

1

3

Assessment of the oyster stock/population

4

5



6

3 7



8

9

10

4

5

11

12

   

Seafood cookery demonstrations at Swansea market

 



   

Fish is the dish 2020















 = Project completed, contributes to this objective.  = Project funding approved and being delivered, will contribute to this objective.

As of 31st January 2020, the projects that have been delivered (or approved) contribute towards objectives 1-4 (theme 1), 7 (theme 2), 9-10 (theme 3), 11 (theme 4) and 12 (theme 5). Although all of the FLAG themes are being contributed to, objectives 5 (provide support to try out new processes or add value to products to help small companies in the fishing industry to grow), 6 (to support businesses to identify diversification opportunities and to re-skill within or outside the sector) and 8 (identification of alternative sources of income for the fishing industry) have not yet been addressed by any FLAG projects. It is possible that the restriction on capital expenditure within project proposals may have influenced the lack of projects directly contributing to these objectives.

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FLAG Expenditure

The total budget for the Swansea Bay FLAG is £380,000, which is split between FLAG running costs (£38,000), animation costs (£57,000) and project implementation (£285,000 of which £132,245 is available to award as project funding).

Out of the available funding for projects (£132,245), 56% (£73,993) has been spent or approved for spending up to 31st January 2020. Table 6 shows the FLAG project expenditure to date by activity type.

Whilst a range of activities have been funded, the highest proportion of spend has focussed on raising awareness and education about local seafood.

In addition to the projects shown in Table 6, funding for two further projects (total £12,999) has been approved by FLAG members and is awaiting approval from the Welsh Government whilst an additional project idea, requiring a budget of £39,990.80, is in development..

Table 6.

FLAG project expenditure up to 31st January 2020 by activity type

Activity type Feasibility study Seafood festival Educational programme

No. of projects

Total

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Total expenditure

1 1 1

4999 7055 61,939

3

£73,993

% of total FLAG project expenditure to 31st January 2020 7 9 84 100

Source: Data provided by Lead Body 2 March 2020

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Stakeholder Feedback

Feedback on the issues encountered in the allocation of FLAG funding and the perceived effectiveness of the FLAG processes was obtained through consultation with the Lead Body, FLAG members and other stakeholders. In total four stakeholders provided feedback for this baseline evaluation, in addition to information provided by the Lead Body and the Welsh Government.

In general, where stakeholders provided feedback on the application process, it was described as complicated and unclear, an issue caused at least in part by the Welsh Government’s guidance on EMFF FLAG funding. This issue which was perceived to be compounded by several changes to this guidance.

The consultation also suggested that the capital spend restriction has resulted in some members of the local fishing community withdrawing their membership from the FLAG and has had a negative impact on the ability of the FLAG to identify relevant projects for funding, and thus on the disbursement of funds and on FLAG outcomes. During consultation with the Welsh Government it was noted that Wales was significantly behind England, Scotland and Ireland with regard to FLAGapproved activity and the reason for this was ineligibility of projects with a capital spend element. It was stated that the restriction on capital spend within FLAG-funded EMFF projects in Wales had been reviewed and would be removed early in 2020. Whilst the lifting of the restriction was considered to be a good development by stakeholders, one expressed concern that it may be too late in the programme to be beneficial to the local fisheries and aquaculture community (given that all project applications must be approved by December 2020). The impact of the capital spend restriction being lifted on projects funded by the FLAG and FLAG expenditure will be documented in the final evaluation in 2021.

To facilitate the fishing community engaging with the FLAG (or any other future funding project), one stakeholder suggested that more communication and information would be useful, either through funding officers visiting fishing ports/quays to explain what funding is available and how they may access it, including with respect to the criteria that needs to be met. Alternatively, such information could be distributed through established communications from fisheries regulators.

Finally, it should be noted that several stakeholders provided positive feedback on the seafood cookery demonstration project delivered in 2019, noting that it had raised awareness of the FLAG and local seafood and hence provided support for local fisheries.

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References

Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018. Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Development: 2014 – 2020. Version 1.0, 11 January 2018. Available online at: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/47430/Local-development-planand-strategy Welsh Government, 2018. Welsh Government – European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020: Fisheries Local Action Group Guidance Notes.

Available online at: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-09/fisheries-local-action-groups-flagguidance.pdf

8 CLLD EFF EMFF EU FLAG FTE LDS MAB PIF TOR

Abbreviations/Acronyms Community Led Local Development European Fisheries Fund European Maritime and Fisheries Fund European Union Fisheries Local Action Group Full-Time Equivalent Local Development Strategy Menter a Busnes Project Idea Form Terms of Reference

Cardinal points/directions are used unless otherwise stated.

SI units are used unless otherwise stated.

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Cyflwynaid

Cafodd Grŵp Gweithredu Lleol Pysgodfeydd (FLAG) Bae Abertawe ei sefydlu’n wreiddiol yn 2012 fel partneriaeth leol mewn ymateb i gyfleoedd a ddaeth yn sgil Blaenoriaeth 4 yr Undeb mewn perthynas â Chronfa Pysgodfeydd Ewrop (EFF) rhwng 2007-2013. FLAG Bae Abertawe oedd un o’r pedwar FLAG cyntaf a sefydlwyd yng Nghymru 2, ac yn ystod cyfnod cyllido 2007-2013 roedd yn cwmpasu Ardaloedd Awdurdodau Lleol Abertawe, Castell-nedd Port Talbot a Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr (FLAG Bae Abertawe, 2018).

Ar ôl goruchwylio’n llwyddiannus y modd y gweithredwyd cyllid yr EFF rhwng 2007-2013 ym Mae Abertawe, mae FLAG Bae Abertawe wedi parhau i weinyddu ail gyfnod cyllido dan Gronfa’r Môr a Physgodfeydd Ewrop (EMFF) rhwng 2014-2020.

Nod yr adroddiad hwn yw sefydlu’r sefyllfa sylfaenol, mewn perthynas â strwythur, prosesau caffael, gwariant prosiectau a chanlyniadau prosiectau FLAG Abertawe, ynghyd â’r cynnydd tuag at amcanion y FLAG, rhwng cychwyn cyfnod cyllido’r EMFF hyd at 31 Ionawr 2020. Bydd hyn yn bwydo i werthusiad terfynol y rhaglen yn 2021. Yn arbennig, mae’r gwerthusiad sylfaenol wedi ceisio pennu unrhyw gyfyngiadau yn y rhaglen a allai effeithio ar lwyddiant y FLAG i gyflawni ei amcanion; ac os caiff cyfyngiadau o’r fath eu pennu, bydd yn cyflwyno argymhellion o ran sut y gellir ymdrin â nhw o fewn y cyfnod cyllido sy’n weddill.

Mae’r adroddiad hwn yn cynnwys yr adrannau a ganlyn:      

2

Adran 1: Cyflwyniad (yr adran hon) Adran 2: Amcanion y FLAG Adran 3: Gweinyddiaeth y Rhaglen Adran 4: Canlyniadau Prosiectau Adran 5: Gwariant y FLAG Adran 6: Materion Allweddol

Dyma’r Grwpiau Gweithredu Lleol Pysgodfeydd eraill yng Nghymru: FLAG Gogledd Cymru, FLAG Bae Ceredigion a FLAG Sir Benfro

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Amcanion y FLAG

Dyma weledigaeth y FLAG ar gyfer Bae Abertawe: "Erbyn 2020, hoffem weld bod diwydiannau pysgota a'r rhai cysylltiedig yn llwyddiannus, yn gynaliadwy ac yn economaidd hyfyw, yn ymwybodol o'u treftadaeth ac mewn sefyllfa dda i ateb heriau'r presennol a'r dyfodol."

Er mwyn helpu i wireddu’r weledigaeth hon, cafodd Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol Pysgodfeydd Bae Abertawe ei diweddaru ar gyfer y cyfnod cyllido presennol (2014-2020), ac fe’i llywiwyd gan Astudiaeth Ymchwil i’r Diwydiant Pysgota a gynhaliwyd yn 2015 ac adborth a ddeilliodd o ymgynghoriad â rhanddeiliaid a gynhaliwyd ym mis Medi 2016. Cafodd y materion allweddol eu troi’n themâu ac yn amcanion, ac fe’u dangosir yn Nhabl 1.

Tabl 1.

Themâu ac Amcanion Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol FLAG Bae Abertawe

Themâu Thema 1: Ychwanegu gwerth, creu swyddi, denu pobl ifanc a hyrwyddo arloesi yn holl gamau’r gadwyn gyflenwi sy’n berthnasol i gynhyrchion dyframaeth a physgodfeydd

Thema 2: Cynorthwyo arallgyfeirio oddi mewn neu oddi allan i bysgodfeydd masnachol, dysgu gydol oes a chreu swyddi yn y meysydd pysgodfeydd a dyframaeth Thema 3: Gwella a manteisio ar asedau amgylcheddol y meysydd pysgodfeydd a dyframaeth, yn cynnwys gwaith i liniaru newid hinsawdd Thema 4: Hyrwyddo lles cymdeithasol a threftadaeth ddiwylliannol yn y meysydd pysgodfeydd a dyframaeth, yn cynnwys treftadaeth ddiwylliannol forol, dyframaeth a physgodfeydd Thema 5: Datblygiad lleol a dulliau llywodraethu gweithgareddau morol ac adnoddau pysgodfeydd lleol

Amcanion Amcan 1: Gwella’r cysylltiadau â chynhyrchwyr bwyd lleol a chynhyrchwyr eraill Amcan 2: Sicrhau cysylltiadau gwell ag ysgolion a cholegau er mwyn annog pobl ifanc i helpu i ddatblygu’r sector Amcan 3: Cynorthwyo i gyflawni prosiectau seilwaith graddfa fach er mwyn annog twf cynaliadwy’r diwydiant Amcan 4: Creu cyfleoedd i rwydweithio, marchnata a hyrwyddo diwydiannau lleol, yn cynnwys cyfleoedd yn ymwneud â’r gadwyn gyflenwi Amcan 5: Darparu cymorth ar gyfer rhoi cynnig ar brosesau newydd neu ychwanegu gwerth at gynhyrchion er mwyn helpu cwmnïau bach yn y diwydiant pysgota i dyfu Amcan 6: Cymorth i fusnesau o ran pennu cyfleoedd i arallgyfeirio ac ailsgilio oddi mewn neu oddi allan i’r sector Amcan 7: Darparu cyfleoedd i ddatblygu’r sector twristiaeth sy’n gysylltiedig â physgodfeydd lleol, yn cynnwys pysgod-dwristiaeth, ecodwristiaeth a chyfleusterau i dwristiaid Amcan 8: Pennu a datblygu ffynonellau incwm amgen ar gyfer y diwydiant pysgota, megis ynni adnewyddadwy Amcan 9: Gwneud y gorau o’r amgylchedd naturiol lleol Amcan 10: Datblygu agweddau treftadaeth a thwristiaeth yr arfordir mewn modd cynaliadwy a chytbwys Amcan 11: Cymorth ar gyfer hyrwyddo treftadaeth ddiwylliannol, dyframaeth a buddiannau morol

Amcan 12: Ymgysylltu ymhellach â chymunedau a chynrychiolwyr lleol i ategu a hyrwyddo’r diwydiant lleol

Ffynhonnell: Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol FLAG Bae Abertawe (FLAG Bae Abertawe, 2018)

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Gweinyddiaeth y Rhaglen

3.1

Gweinyddiaeth

Swansea Council

Caiff FLAG Bae Abertawe ei weinyddu gan Gyngor Abertawe, ei Gorff Arweiniol, a’i lywio gan aelodau’r FLAG sy’n cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o fuddiannau economaidd-gymdeithasol lleol cyhoeddus, preifat a chymunedol.

3.1.1

Y Corff Arweiniol

Fel y Corff Arweiniol, Cyngor Abertawe sy’n mynd i’r afael â rheoli’r rhaglen a’r prosiectau, y swyddogaethau ariannol a gweinyddol, y broses o gynnal gwerthusiadau technegol ar geisiadau am grantiau a’r broses o gyflwyno hawliadau am gyllid i Lywodraeth Cymru (FLAG Bae Abertawe, 2018).

Mae tri aelod o staff yn mynd i’r afael â gweinyddu’r FLAG: 1.

2.

3.

3.1.2

Ysgogwr (1 cyfwerth ag amser llawn (FTE)): annog a hwyluso unigolion a grwpiau yn ardal y FLAG i gyflwyno ceisiadau prosiectau sy’n cyfrannu at strategaeth y FLAG, gan gynorthwyo a monitro ymgeiswyr trwy’r broses o ddatblygu’r syniad hyd at ei weithredu a’i gyflawni. Mae’r ysgogwr yn gyfrifol am reoli’r gyllideb, a bydd yn cyflwyno diweddariadau chwarterol i’r Tîm Datblygu Economaidd a Chyllid Allanol a’r adran Gynllunio ac Adfywio, yn ogystal â rhoi diweddariadau rheolaidd i Lywodraeth Cymru.

Swyddog cyllid (0.25 FTE): ymdrin ag ymholiadau’n ymwneud â’r gyllideb, datganiadau, unrhyw hawliadau, cysylltu â Llywodraeth Cymru i ddiweddaru ei systemau, ac ymdrin â chanllawiau, rheolau a chostau rhedeg o ddydd i ddydd.

Cynorthwyydd (0.25 FTE): cynorthwyo gyda gwaith caffael, archebu nwyddau, trefnu cyfarfodydd, cymryd cofnodion, cysylltu ag ymgeiswyr a gwaith gweinyddu cyffredinol.

Llywodraeth Cymru

Llywodraeth Cymru sy’n gyfrifol am gynnal gwiriad terfynol ar gymhwystra cynigion prosiectau a ddewisir gan y FLAG, cyn y rhoddir cymeradwyaeth ffurfiol. Mae hyn yn golygu gwirio bod y cynnig yn bodloni meini prawf cymhwystra o fewn rheoliadau a chanllawiau’r EMFF, bod y costau’n cael eu cyfrifo’n gywir a bod y prosesau caffael wedi’u cynnal yn briodol. Os bydd y cynnig a’r prosesau caffael yn cydymffurfio, anfonir cadarnhad o’r cynnig cyllido.

Mae modd i’r FLAG gael hyd at uchafswm o 10% o uchafswm cyllideb yr EMFF (£380,00) i dalu costau rhedeg a hyd at 15% ar gyfer gweithgareddau ysgogi (FLAG Bae Abertawe, 2018). Caiff dyraniad y gyllideb ar gyfer gweinyddu FLAG Bae Abertawe yn ystod cyfnod cyllido’r EMFF (fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020) ei ddisgrifio ymhellach yn Atodiad E. Mae gwybodaeth a ddeilliodd o ymgynghoriad a gynhaliwyd ar gyfer y gwerthusiad hwn yn nodi y bydd cyllideb FLAG Bae Abertawe yn cael ei hailbroffilio yn 2020 oherwydd newidiadau yn y canllawiau a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Nid oedd y newidiadau hyn wedi digwydd ar yr adeg yr ysgrifennwyd yr adroddiad hwn, a bydd unrhyw newidiadau yn y gyllideb mewn perthynas â gweinyddu FLAG Bae Abertawe yn cael eu disgrifio yn yr adroddiad gwerthuso terfynol (2021).

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Oddi mewn i Lywodraeth Cymru ceir tîm o dri sy’n gysylltiedig â phroses ymgeisio’r EMFF, yn cynnwys cymeradwyo, arfarnu a rheolaeth ariannol prosiectau’r FLAG. Y prif bwynt cyswllt ar gyfer Corff Arweiniol y FLAG yw’r Rheolwr Gweithredu, ar gyfer trafod ceisiadau, cymhwystra (prosiectau posibl y gellir eu hariannu) ac unrhyw ymholiadau. Caiff adolygiadau eu cynnal ar brosiectau ar ôl i’r prosiectau gael eu cyflawni, neu os cânt eu dewis ar gyfer archwiliad. Caiff hawliadau cyllid y FLAG eu prosesu gan staff mewn tîm gwahanol.

3.1.3

Aelodau’r FLAG

Fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020, roedd aelodau FLAG Bae Abertawe yn cynnwys 11 aelod o’r sector preifat a 5 aelod o’r sector cyhoeddus (gweler Tabl 2). Mae Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol FLAG Bae Abertawe yn nodi y dylai’r FLAG gyfarfod bob chwarter o leiaf. Rhwng mis Gorffennaf 2017 a mis Ionawr 2020, cafodd deg o gyfarfodydd y FLAG eu cynnal. Gwelir bod nifer yr aelodau a fynychodd wedi amrywio o 4 i 13, a mynychwyd pob un o’r cyfarfodydd gan o leiaf un cynrychiolydd o’r sector cyhoeddus ac un cynrychiolydd o’r sector preifat.

Tabl 2.

Cyfansoddiad aelodau FLAG Bae Abertawe (fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020)

Math o fudd Preifat

Cyhoeddus

Sector Unigolyn (Biolegydd Morol) Pysgotwr Masnachol (Porth Tywyn) Cyfarwyddwr, Gwasanaethau Iechyd Porthladd Abertawe Gwirfoddolwr Cynrychiolydd Cymunedau Pysgota De a Gorllewin Cymru Twristiaeth Bae Abertawe Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru Ymddiriedolaeth Datblygu’r Mwmbwls Busnes Cynhyrchu Dyframaeth Lleol Busnes Cynhyrchu Dyframaeth Lleol Seafish Fforwm Amgylchedd Abertawe Datblygu Gwledig (REACH) Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr Datblygu Gwledig (REACH) Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr Biolegydd Morol Cynghorydd Economaidd

Ffynhonnell: Darparwyd y data gan Gorff Arweiniol FLAG Bae Abertawe, 15 Ionawr 2020

3.2 Y Broses Gaffael Mae’r broses gaffael ar gyfer cyllid yr EMFF trwy gyfrwng y FLAG yn cynnwys dau gam: i) ii)

Cyflwyno Ffurflen Syniad Prosiect; ac, os caiff y syniad hwn ei gymeradwyo gan y FLAG Cyflwyno cais llawn.

Mae Nodiadau Cyfarwyddyd Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Grwpiau Gweithredu Lleol Pysgodfeydd mewn perthynas â’r EMFF (2014-2020) yn nodi yr ystyrir y gweithgaredd (prosiect) yn gymwys os dangosir yn glir y bydd yn cynorthwyo i gyflawni amcanion yr EMFF a nodau’r Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol (Tabl 1).

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Ymhellach, mae’r Nodiadau Cyfarwyddyd (Llywodraeth Cymru, 2018) yn pennu’r gweithgareddau a’r costau nad ydynt yn gymwys ar gyfer cyllid FLAG. Fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020, roedd hyn yn cynnwys gwariant cyfalaf ar gyfer eitemau a chanddynt werth o fwy na £10,000 a/neu oes ddefnyddiol o dros flwyddyn. Mae’r cyfyngiad hwn yn wahaniaeth hollbwysig rhwng y cam cyllido presennol (EMFF; 2014-2020) a’r cam cyllido blaenorol (EFF; 2007-2014) pan oedd gwariant cyfalaf yn gymwys.

Er mwyn hyrwyddo cyfleoedd cyllido’r EMFF a thynnu sylw at y cymorth sydd ar gael i unigolion a grwpiau ar gyfer cyflwyno prosiectau sy’n cyfrannu at Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol FLAG Bae Abertawe, mae FLAG Bae Abertawe wedi datblygu a gweithredu cynllun cyfathrebu. Mae’r dulliau ymgysylltu’n cynnwys ymgyrchoedd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol trwy dudalen Facebook a gwefan FLAG Bae Abertawe, cylchlythyrau, a datblygu llyfryn FLAG Bae Abertawe. Caiff digwyddiadau a ariennir gan y FLAG eu hyrwyddo ymhlith y cyhoedd a chymunedau lleol trwy amryfal sianeli, yn cynnwys y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, papurau newydd lleol, taflenni a phosteri.

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Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group

4

Canlyniadau Prosiectau

4.1

Proiectau’r FLAG

Swansea Council

Mae Tabl 3 yn rhestru’r prosiectau sydd wedi cael cyllid gan FLAG Bae Abertawe neu sy’n disgwyl cael cymeradwyaeth (fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020). Disgrifir y prosiectau’n fanwl yn Atodiad C. Mewn gwrthgyferbyniad â rhaglen gyllido wreiddiol yr EFF, ni all y FLAG ddyfarnu cyllid yr EMFF ar gyfer darparu gwyliau bwyd. Mae ymgeiswyr sy’n dymuno darparu gwyliau bwyd wedi cael eu cyfeirio at Menter a Busnes. Mae Tabl 4 yn rhestru’r prosiectau a gyflawnwyd yn ardal FLAG Bae Abertawe ac a ariannwyd trwy Menter a Busnes (fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020).

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Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group

Tabl 3.

Swansea Council

Statws prosiectau a ariannwyd trwy’r FLAG (fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020) Math o Weithgaredd Gŵyl Bwyd Môr

Cyllid FLAG (£) 7,055

Arolwg wystrys brodorol Bae Abertawe a Gŵyr ‘Fish is the dish’

Dichonoldeb

4,999

Digwyddiad

61,939

Astudiaeth Ddichonoldeb Tŷ Ocsiwn Porth Tywyn

Dichonoldeb

8,000

Astudiaeth Ddichonoldeb Pontŵn ar Afon Tawe

Dichonoldeb

4,999

Prosiect Arddangosiadau coginio bwyd môr ym marchnad Abertawe

Tabl 4.

Statws

Disgrifiad

Cwblhawyd

Arddangosiadau coginio bwyd môr a gynhaliwyd ym marchnad Abertawe ym mis Medi 219 dros gyfnod o bum diwrnod. Cafwyd cyllid ychwanegol o £1,796 gan Gronfa Gwyliau Bwyd Môr Menter a Busnes (Prosiect Datblygu a Thyfu Marchnadoedd Bwyd Môr; gweler Tabl 4).

Arolwg o boblogaeth wystrys brodorol gwyllt ym Mae Abertawe ac ar hyd arfordir Gŵyr i weld beth yw statws presennol wystrys brodorol.

Bydd y prosiect ‘Fish is the Dish 2020’ yn canolbwyntio ar godi ymwybyddiaeth o fwyd môr lleol, materion yn ymwneud â chynaliadwyedd, a’r manteision iechyd sy’n deillio o fwyd môr, a hynny ymhlith myfyrwyr ysgolion cynradd 9-11 oed. Rhagwelir y bydd yn cychwyn yng Ngwanwyn 2020.

Astudiaeth ddichonoldeb ar gyfer sefydlu safle Ocsiwn Pysgod yn harbwr Porth Tywyn ac ar-lein.

Cwblhawyd Cymeradwywyd cyllid – wrthi’n caffael ymgynghorydd bwyd i’w gyflawni Disgwyl cymeradwyaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru Disgwyl cymeradwyaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru

Astudiaeth gwmpasu / astudiaeth ddichonoldeb ar gyfer cael llwyfan glanio wrth Stadiwm Liberty.

Prosiectau gwyliau bwyd yn ardal FLAG Bae Abertawe a ariannwyd trwy Menter a Busnes (fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020)

Prosiect Gŵyl wystrys y Mwmbwls Arddangosiadau Coginio Bwyd Môr

Math o Weithgaredd Gŵyl Gŵyl

Cyllid FLAG (£) 993.40 1,220.10

Statws

Disgrifiad

Cwblhawyd

Gŵyl i ddathlu treftadaeth Wystrys y Mwmbwls a physgodfeydd y glannau yn y Mwmbwls, Gŵyr a Bae Abertawe. Cyflawnwyd ym mis Hydref 2019.

Arddangosiadau coginio bwyd môr a gynhaliwyd ym Marchnad Abertawe, Medi 2019 (fel y nodir yn Nhabl 3). Gwariwyd y cyllid ychwanegol a gafwyd gan Menter a Busnes, sef £1,220.10, ar ddeunyddiau marchnata a hyrwyddo.

Cwblhawyd

Ffynhonnell Tabl 3 a Thabl 4: Gwefan FLAG Bae Abertawe a data a gafwyd gan y Corff Arweiniol, Chwefror 2020.

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4.2 Cyfrannu at Amcanion y FLAG Caiff yr asesiad o’r amcanion y mae prosiectau’n cyfrannu atynt ei gynnal gan Gorff Arweiniol FLAG Bae Abertawe ar ôl derbyn ceisiadau prosiectau. Mae Tabl 5 yn nodi pa amcanion sy’n cael eu cyflawni gan brosiectau a gwblhawyd neu a gymeradwywyd, fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020.

Tabl 7.

Amcanion y Strategaeth Datblygu Lleol a gyflawnir gan y prosiectau a gwblhawyd neu a gymeradwywyd hyd at 31 Ionawr 2020

Prosiect

Thema 1 Amcan 1

2 3

Asesu stoc/poblogaeth wystrys

4



5

6

3 7

8



9

10

4

5

11

12

   

Arddangosiadau coginio bwyd môr ym marchnad Abertawe

 



   

‘Fish is the dish 2020’















 = Cwblhawyd y prosiect, mae’n cyfrannu ar yr amcan hwn.  = Cymeradwywyd cyllid y prosiect ac mae wrthi’n cael ei gyflawni, bydd yn cyfrannu at yr amcan hwn.

Fel yr oedd y sefyllfa ar 31 Ionawr 2020, mae’r prosiectau sydd wedi’u cyflawni (neu eu cymeradwyo) yn cyfrannu at amcanion 1-4 (thema 1), 7 (thema 2), 9-10 (thema 3), 11 (thema 4) ac 12 (thema 5). Er y cyfrennir at bob un o themâu’r FLAG, nid oes unrhyw un o brosiectau’r FLAG hyd yn hyn wedi ymdrin ag amcan 5 (darparu cymorth ar gyfer rhoi cynnig ar brosesau newydd neu ychwanegu gwerth at gynhyrchion er mwyn helpu cwmnïau bach yn y diwydiant pysgota i dyfu), amcan 6 (cymorth i fusnesau o ran pennu cyfleoedd i arallgyfeirio ac ailsgilio oddi mewn neu oddi allan i’r sector) nac amcan 8 (pennu a datblygu ffynonellau incwm amgen ar gyfer y diwydiant pysgota, megis ynni adnewyddadwy). Mae’n bosibl bod cyfyngu ar wariant cyfalaf o fewn cynigion prosiectau wedi dylanwadu ar y diffyg prosiectau sy’n cyfrannu’n uniongyrchol at yr amcanion hyn.

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Swansea Council

Gwariant y FLAG

Cyfanswm y gyllideb ar gyfer FLAG Bae Abertawe yw £380,000, a chaiff yr arian hwn ei rannu rhwng costau rhedeg y FLAG (£38,000), costau ysgogi (£57,000) a’r gost o roi prosiectau ar waith (£285,000 – o blith y swm hwn, mae £132,245 ar gael ar gyfer cyllido prosiectau).

O’r cyllid sydd ar gael ar gyfer prosiectau (£132,245), mae 56% (£73,993) ohono wedi’i wario, neu wedi’i gymeradwyo ar gyfer ei wario, hyd at 31 Ionawr 2020. Dengys Tabl 6 y gwariant ar brosiectau’r FLAG hyd yn hyn, yn ôl gweithgaredd. Er bod amrywiaeth o weithgareddau wedi’u hariannu, mae cyfran fwyaf y gwariant wedi canolbwyntio ar godi ymwybyddiaeth ac addysg mewn perthynas â bwyd môr lleol.

Yn ychwanegol at y prosiectau a ddangosir yn Nhabl 6, mae cyllid ar gyfer dau brosiect arall (cyfanswm o £12,999) wedi’i gymeradwyo gan aelodau’r FLAG a disgwylir am gymeradwyaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru; ac mae syniad ychwanegol am brosiect, sydd angen cyllideb o £39,990.80, wrthi’n cael ei ddatblygu.

Tabl 8.

Gwariant ar brosiectau’r FLAG hyd at 31 Ionawr 2020, yn ôl gweithgaredd

Math o weithgaredd Astudiaeth ddichonoldeb Gŵyl bwyd môr Rhaglen addysgol Cyfanswm

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Nifer y prosiectau

Cyfanswm y gwariant

1

4999

1 1 3

7055 61,939 £73,993

% cyfanswm gwariant y FLAG ar brosiectau hyd at 31 Ionawr 2020 7 9 84 100

Ffynhonnell: Darparwyd y data gan y Corff Arweiniol 2 Mawrth 2020

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Swansea Council

Adborth gan Randdeiliaid

Trwy ymgynghori â’r Corff Arweiniol, aelodau’r FLAG a rhanddeiliaid eraill, llwyddwyd i gael adborth ar y materion y daethpwyd ar eu traws wrth ddyrannu cyllid y FLAG ynghyd ag adborth ar effeithiolrwydd ymddangosiadol prosesau’r FLAG. Cyflwynodd cyfanswm o bedwar rhanddeiliad adborth ar gyfer y gwerthusiad sylfaenol hwn, yn ychwanegol at wybodaeth a gyflwynwyd gan y Corff Arweiniol a Llywodraeth Cymru.

Yn gyffredinol, pan gyflwynodd rhanddeiliaid adborth ar y broses ymgeisio, dywedwyd bod y broses yn gymhleth ac yn aneglur – rhywbeth a achoswyd, yn rhannol o leiaf, gan ganllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Grwpiau Gweithredu Lleol Pysgodfeydd mewn perthynas â chyllid yr EMFF. Y farn oedd bod y mater hwn wedi’i ddwysáu gan sawl newid yn y canllawiau.

Awgrymodd yr ymgynghoriad hefyd fod y cyfyngiad ar wariant cyfalaf wedi arwain rhai aelodau o’r gymuned bysgota leol i ddadymaelodi â’r FLAG a’i fod wedi cael effaith negyddol ar allu’r FLAG i bennu prosiectau perthnasol ar gyfer cyllid, ac effaith negyddol yn yr un modd ar wario cronfeydd a chyflawni canlyniadau’r FLAG. Wrth ymgynghori â Llywodraeth Cymru, nodwyd bod Cymru ymhell y tu ôl i Loegr, yr Alban ac Iwerddon o ran gweithgareddau a oedd wedi’u cymeradwyo, a nodwyd mai anghymhwystra prosiectau ag elfen gwariant cyfalaf yn perthyn iddynt oedd wrth wraidd hyn. Nodwyd bod y cyfyngiad ar wariant cyfalaf ym mhrosiectau’r EMFF a ariennir gan FLAG yng Nghymru wedi cael ei adolygu ac y byddai’n cael ei ddileu yn gynnar yn 2020. Er bod rhanddeiliaid o’r farn fod cael gwared â’r cyfyngiad yn ddatblygiad da, mynegodd un bryder y gallai fod yn rhy hwyr yn y rhaglen i fod o fudd i bysgodfeydd lleol a’r gymuned dyframaeth (o gofio bod yn rhaid cymeradwyo’r holl geisiadau erbyn mis Rhagfyr 2020). Bydd yr effaith ar brosiectau a ariennir gan y FLAG ac ar wariant y FLAG, a ddaw yn sgil cael gwared â’r cyfyngiad ar wariant cyfalaf, yn cael ei dogfennau yn y gwerthusiad terfynol yn 2021.

Er mwyn hwyluso’r gymuned bysgota i ymgysylltu â’r FLAG (neu unrhyw brosiect cyllido arall yn y dyfodol), awgrymodd un rhanddeiliad y byddai mwy o gyfathrebu a mwy o wybodaeth yn ddefnyddiol, naill ai trwy gael swyddogion cyllido i ymweld â cheiau/porthladdoedd pysgota i esbonio pa gyllid sydd ar gael a sut y gellir cael gafael arno, yn cynnwys gwybodaeth am y meini prawf y mae’n ofynnol eu bodloni; neu, trwy ddosbarthu gwybodaeth o’r fath trwy ddulliau cyfathrebu sy’n bodoli eisoes gan reoleiddwyr pysgodfeydd.

Yn olaf, dylid nodi bod sawl rhanddeiliad wedi cyflwyno adborth cadarnhaol ar y prosiect coginio bwyd môr a gynhaliwyd yn 2019, gan ddweud ei fod wedi codi ymwybyddiaeth o’r FLAG a bwyd môr lleol a thrwy hynny wedi cefnogi pysgodfeydd lleo

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Appendices

Evaluation of the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group

Swansea Council

A Programme Administration A.1 Background The Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action group (FLAG) was originally established as a local partnership in 2012 in response to opportunities opened up through Union Priority 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) between 2007-2013. The Swansea Bay FLAG was one of four FLAGs established in Wales 3, and during the 2007-2013 funding period, covered the Local Authority Areas of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018).

Further to successfully overseeing the implementation of the EFF 2007-2013 funding in Swansea Bay, the Swansea Bay FLAG has continued to administer a second period of funding, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) between 2014-2020 4. The purpose of the current funding phase is to build on the achievements of the previous EFF programme and move forward with a strategy in a wider geographic area that now includes the Burry Port area as well as the original three Local Authority areas referred to above.

A.2 FLAG Vision The FLAG’s vision for Swansea Bay is “By 2020 we want to see successful, sustainable, economically viable local fishing and associated industries, aware of its heritage and well equipped to meet current and future challenges.” To help achieve this vision, The Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Development Strategy (LDS) was updated for the current funding phase (2014-2020) informed by a Fishing Industry Research Study in 2015 and the feedback from consultation with stakeholders in September 2016. The key issues identified through the fisheries study and consultation were translated into themes and objectives, which align with the objectives outlined within Union Priority 4 of the EMFF Operational Programme. Detailed objectives are set out in Appendix B. The total amount of EMFF funding available for allocation in the 2014-2020 funding phase is £380,000.

An updated Local Development Strategy (LDS) was published in 2018 and funding applications that meet the themes and objectives of the LDS are eligible for funding (see Table B1). The procurement process and projects funded as of 31st January 2020 are described in more detail in Appendix B and C respectively.

A.3 FLAG structure and administration The Swansea Bay FLAG continues to be administrated by Swansea Council as the Lead Body, and steered by FLAG members comprising representatives from community, private and public local socioeconomic interests.

A.3.1 Lead body: Swansea Council Swansea Council is the Lead Body for the Swansea Bay FLAG, undertaking programme and project management, financial and administrative functions, technical appraisal of grant applications and the submission of claims for funding to the Welsh Government (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018).

3 4

The other FLAGS established in Wales are the North Wales FLAG, Cardigan Bay FLAG and the Pembrokeshire FLAG EMFF funding needs to be allocated by December 2020, however, project implementation can proceed until 2021 and potentially beyond subject to Welsh Government confirmation (FLAG Lead Body, pers. comm. Jan 2020)

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There are three staff members, housed within Swansea Council, involved in administering the FLAG, who undertake the following roles: 1.

Animator (1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)): one of the main values of Community Led Local Development (CLLD) is the ability of the FLAGs to get out into the community and encourage and support individuals and groups to present projects that contribute to the strategy (see Section B.1.4) . The Animator facilitates and capacity builds within the FLAG area so that ideas can be turned into deliverable projects, organising meetings to bring people together and, where necessary, providing specialist technical help or consultancy. The animator is responsible for managing the budget and supporting and monitoring applicants from idea development through to implementation and delivery. The Animator is also responsible for providing quarterly FLAG updates to the Economic Development & External Funding Team, the Planning and Regeneration department as well as regular updates to Welsh Government.  Finance officer (0.25 FTE): Finance, handles budget queries, statements, any claims, liaises with the Welsh Government to update their systems, handles day to day running costs, rules and guidance.  Assistant (0.25 FTE): Assists with procurement, ordering goods, setting up meetings, taking minutes, liaising with applicants and general administration.

The FLAG can receive up to a maximum of 10% of the maximum EMFF budget (£380,000) for the costs of administrating the FLAG (running costs) and up to 15% for animation activity (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018). The budget allocation for administering the Swansea Bay FLAG during the EMFF funding phase (as of 31st January 2020) is described further in Appendix E. Information obtained through consultation undertaken for this evaluation indicated that in 2020 there would be a re-profile of the project budget due to changes in guidance issued by the Welsh Government. These changes had not occurred at the time of writing this baseline evaluation and any budget changes with regard to administrating the Swansea Bay FLAG will be described in the final evaluation report (2021).

A.3.2 The Welsh Government Within the Welsh Government, there is a team of three staff involved in the EMFF application process, including approval, appraisal and financial management of FLAG projects. An Implementation Manager is the main point of contact for the FLAG Lead Body, to discuss applications, eligibility (of potential projects for funding) and any queries. Project reviews are undertaken once a project is delivered, or if selected for inspection. FLAG funding claims are processed by staff within a different team.

The Welsh Government has responsibility for undertaking a final eligibility check on project proposals selected by the FLAG, prior to formal approval being issued. This involves checking that the proposal meets the eligibility criteria within the EMFF guidance and regulations, that the costs are calculated correctly and that the procurement has been conducted correctly. If the proposal and procurement is compliant, confirmation of the funding offer is issued.

Consultation undertaken for this evaluation highlighted that the Welsh Government were in the process of making changes to the eligibility criteria with regard to the restriction on funding of projects with a capital element (see section B.3). The changes that are implemented and the effect on lifting the restriction on capital funding on the efficacy of the Swansea Bay FLAG funding allocation will be assessed in the final evaluation report in 2021. It was noted that any approved FLAG-funded projects in the future that have a capital element component will require an appraisal to ensure the equipment/item has been purchased.

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Consultation undertaken for this evaluation confirmed that there are no formal reporting requirements between the FLAG and the Welsh Government.

A.3.3 FLAG members For the current 2014-2020 EMFF funding period, the membership of the FLAG was revised (compared to that during the 2007-2013 period) via an application process steered by a ‘shadow’ FLAG formed at the end of the EFF 2007-2013 programme (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018). Consultation undertaken for this evaluation indicated that whilst a lot of FLAG members from the first funding phase (2007-2013) applied to be members in the current funding phase, new members have also joined, including new representatives from the aquaculture sector. Five members have left the FLAG since 2017, including three representatives of the local commercial fishing industry who withdrew their membership of the FLAG due to the restriction on funding projects which include capital purchases (this restriction is described further in Section B.3). Gaps in the current membership were suggested to include representatives of the local cockle fishery and laverbread industry.

The FLAG Terms of Reference (TOR) set out the requirements to ensure compliance with regulation EC 1303/2013 Article 32 2(b) which requires community-led local development (CLLD) to be led by local action groups comprising representation from public and private local socio-economic interests.

The TOR state that: 



The composition of the membership of the Group should ensure that no single interest should have more than 49% of the voting rights and be truly representative of relevant local public and private socio-economic interests; and Ensure at least 50% of the votes in selection decision are cast by partners which are not public authorities.

Table A1 shows the composition of the Swansea Bay FLAG membership, as of 31st January 2020, which comprises 11 private sector members and 5 public sector members.

Table A1.

Composition of Swansea Bay FLAG members (as of 31st January 2020)

Interest Type Private

Public

Sector Individual (Marine Biologist) Commercial Fisherman (Burry Port ) Director, Swansea Port Health Services Volunteer South and West Wales Fishing Communities Swansea Bay Tourism Natural Resources Wales Mumbles Development Trust Local Aquaculture Production Business Local Aquaculture Production Business Seafish Swansea Environment Forum BCBC Bridgend Rural Development (REACH) BCBC Bridgend Rural Development (REACH) Marine Biologist Economic Advisor

Source: Data provided by the Swansea Bay FLAG Lead Body, 15th January 2020

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A.3.4 FLAG meetings The Swansea Bay FLAG LDS states that the FLAG should meet at least on a quarterly basis (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018). Between July 2017 and January 2020, ten FLAG meetings have been held. Figure A1 shows the attendance at FLAG meetings over this time period. The number of FLAG member attendees has ranged between 4 and 13 and all meetings have been attended by at least one public and one private sector representative.

Figure A1.

Number of attendees at Swansea Bay FLAG meetings since 2017

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B

FLAG Objectives and the Procurement Process

B.1

The application process

The application process for EMFF funding via the FLAG comprises of two stages: i) ii)

Submission of a Project Idea Form (PIF); and, if the PIF is approved by the FLAG Submission of a full application.

The application forms are available on the Swansea Bay FLAG website (https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/47434/Applying-for-SBFLAG-funding).

B.2 Eligibility criteria for FLAG funding The Welsh Government Guidance notes (Welsh Government, 2018) state that if the activity (project) can be clearly demonstrated as supporting the achievement of the objectives of EMFF and the aims of the LDS then it will be deemed to be eligible. The aims of the EMFF and the LDS are described below.

B.2.1 EMFF objectives Union priority 4 of the EMFF is a funding stream aimed at increasing employment and territorial cohesion. The specific objective of Union priority 4 is promotion of economic growth, social inclusion and job creation, and providing support to employability and labour mobility in coastal and inland communities which depend on fishing and aquaculture, including diversification of activities within fisheries and into other sectors of the maritime economy (EMFF Operational Programme).

The UK Operational Programme states that the aim of Union priority 4 is to: Support investment in training, maintaining and developing skills, capacity building, improved local marketing and supply chain logistics, diversification and improved access to match funding.

B.2.2 LDS objectives The themes and objectives of the Swansea Bay FLAG LDS are shown in Table B1 below.

Table B1.

Swansea Bay FLAG Local Development Strategy Themes and Objectives

Theme Theme 1: Adding value, creating jobs, attracting young people and promoting innovations at all stage of the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products

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Objectives Objective 1: Improve links with other local food and other producers Objective 2: Achieve better links with schools and colleges to encourage young people to help develop the sector Objective 3: Support delivery of small-scale infrastructure projects to encourage sustainable growth of the industry

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Theme

Theme 2: Supporting diversification inside or outside commercial fisheries, lifelong learning and job creation in fisheries and aquaculture areas

Theme 3: Enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets of the fisheries and aquaculture areas, including operations to mitigate climate change

Theme 4: Promoting social well-being and cultural heritage in fisheries and aquaculture areas, including fisheries, aquaculture and maritime cultural heritage Theme 5: Local development and the governance of local fisheries resources and maritime activities

Swansea Council

Objectives Objective 4: Creation of opportunities for networking, marketing and promotion of local industry, including supply-chain opportunities Objective 5: Provision of support for trying out new processes or adding value to products to help small companies in the fishing industry to grow Objective 6: Support for business to identify diversification opportunities and re-skill within or outside the sector Objective 7: Provision of opportunities to develop the tourism sector linked to local fisheries, including pescatourism, eco-tourism and tourist facilities Objective 8: Identification and development of alternative sources of income for the fishing industry such as renewable energy Objective 9: Making the most of the local natural environment Objective 10: Sustainable and balanced development of the heritage and tourism aspects of the coastline Objective 11: Support for the promotion of cultural heritage, aquaculture and maritime interests Objective 12: To further engage communities and local representatives to support and promote the local industry

Source: Swansea Bay FLAG LDS (Swansea Bay FLAG, 2018)

The eligibility of project ideas and full applications submitted to the Swansea Bay FLAG is assessed initially by the Swansea Bay FLAG Co-ordinator (animator) with respect to meeting the Welsh Government FLAG Guidance and the Swansea Bay FLAG LDS objectives. If the idea or application is deemed to meet the LDS themes, it is then circulated to FLAG members for approval. Further to approval by the FLAG members, the application is sent to the Welsh Government for final approval.

B.3 Activities and costs which are ineligible for FLAG funding The Welsh Government EMFF 2014-2020 FLAG Guidance Notes (Welsh Government, 2018) set out the activities and costs which are not eligible for FLAG funding.

Paragraphs 58 and 59 of the guidance state that: (58) “Any expenditure on ineligible activities such as capital or revenue grants to commercial businesses or other support that would constitute State Aid is not eligible under CLLD”; and (59) “The following items or types of expenditure are not eligible under CLLD:  Capital expenditure i.e. any single item with a value of more than £10,000 and/or a useful life of more than one year”

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The ineligibility of capital expenditure (for items with a value of over £10,000 and/or a useful life of over one year) is a key difference between the current funding phase (EMFF; 2014-2020) and the previous funding phase (EFF; 2007-2014) in which capital expenditure was eligible. Consultation undertaken for this evaluation has suggested that the capital spend restriction resulted in some members of the local fishing community withdrawing their membership from the FLAG. The impact of the capital spend restriction on all of the Welsh FLAGs was noted within the Swansea Bay FLAG internal progress report (November 2019; provided by the Lead Body) Risk and Issue Tracker which stated that, regarding capital spend “The Welsh FLAGs have had difficulty being able to identify projects without a capital element being required, which has resulted in less projects and less interests in requests for funding.”

During consultation with the Welsh Government it was noted that Wales was significantly behind England, Scotland and Ireland with regard to FLAG-approved activity and the reason for this was ineligibility of projects with a capital spend element. It was stated that the restriction on capital spend within FLAG-funded EMFF projects in Wales had been reviewed and would be removed early in 2020.

The capital spend restriction has had a negative impact on the ability of the FLAG to identify relevant projects for funding, and thus on the disbursement of funds and on FLAG outcomes. The impact of the capital spend restriction being lifted on projects funded by the FLAG and FLAG expenditure will be documented in the final evaluation in 2021.

B.4 The Swansea Bay FLAG Communication Plan A Swansea Bay FLAG communication plan was developed and implemented to promote the EMFF funding opportunities available through the FLAG and highlight the support available for individuals and groups to present projects that contribute to the Swansea Bay FLAG LDS. Engagement methods have included social media campaigns via the Swansea Bay FLAG website and Facebook page and the development of a Swansea Bay FLAG booklet, produced in hard copy format in English and Welsh for FLAG members to distribute. FLAG funded events (such as the seafood cookery demonstrations) are promoted to the public and local communities through multiple channels including social media, local newspapers, leaflets and posters.

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C

Swansea Council

FLAG-Funded Project Outcomes

Table C1 describes the projects that have been awarded funding from the Swansea Bay FLAG or that are currently awaiting approval (as of 31st January 2020). Project ideas that were in development (but not approved) as of 31st of January 2020 have not been included, but will be captured within the final evaluation if full applications are made and funded is approved.

It should be noted that, in contrast to the original EFF funding programme, the FLAG is not able to award EMFF funding for the delivery of food festivals. As such, any applicants wanting to deliver a food festival have been signposted to the Menter a Busnes (MAB) scheme 5 (an independent economic development company reporting to Welsh Government).

Table C2 describes the projects that received funding through MAB and have been delivered within the Swansea Bay FLAG area (as of 31st January 2020).

5

https://menterabusnes.cymru/about/

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Table C1.

Swansea Council

Status of FLAG funded projects (as of 31st January 2020)

Project Seafood cookery demonstrations at Swansea market

Activity Type Seafood Festival

FLAG Funding (£) 7,055

Swansea Bay and Gower native oyster survey

Feasibility

Fish is the dish

Event

Burry Port Auction House Feasibility Study Pontoon on River Tawe Feasibility Study

Feasibility

8,000

Feasibility

4,999

Table C2.

4,999

61,939

Status Complete

Complete

Funding approved – procuring a food consultant to deliver

Awaiting approval from Welsh Government Awaiting approval from Welsh Government

Description Seafood cookery demonstrations were held in Swansea Market in September 2019 over a 5 day period. Local chefs gave live cookery demonstrations using local seafood purchased in Swansea market, including cockles and laverbread, enabling the audience to see and taste the food prepared. Recipe cards were given out so that people could purchase the ingredients within the market and try the recipes at home. The cookery demonstrations also included other local businesses selling wines and preserves. The event was photographed and published via social media and local media channels. Bay TV attended, interviewing the FLAG co-ordinator, chefs and members of the FLAG. Additional funding of £1,796 was received from Menter a Busnes (MAB) Seafood Festival Fund (Seafood Market Development and Growth Project) (see Table C2). These monies were spent on marketing and promotional materials.

This was a survey of the wild native oyster population in Swansea Bay and along the Gower coast to establish the current status of native oysters. Such information underpins appropriate management of this once important commercial species and this information can inform the potential for future fisheries.

Building on a much smaller, but previously successful delivery of Fish is the Dish in 2014, the Fish is the Dish 2020 project will focus on raising awareness of local seafood, sustainability issues, and the health benefits of seafood amongst primary school students aged 9-11 years old. It is anticipated the project will involve at least half of the 191 primary schools in the FLAG area and provide an education pack and interactive cooking lessons.

Anticipated to commence delivery in Spring 2020.

Feasibility study for establishing a Fish Auction site on Burry Port harbour and online.

A scoping / feasibility study for a proposed landing stage at the Liberty Stadium.

Source: Swansea Bay FLAG website and data provided by Lead Body, February 2020)

Food festival projects in the Swansea Bay FLAG area, funded through the Menter A Busnes Scheme (as of 31st January 2020)

Project Mumbles oyster festival

Activity Type Festival

Seafood Cookery Demonstrations

Festival

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FLAG Funding (£) £993.40

Status Complete

£1220.10

Complete

Description Festival celebration of the heritage of the Mumbles Oyster and inshore fisheries of Mumbles, Gower and Swansea Bay. The event was delivered in October 2019 in Mumbles and included an oyster bar, cooking demonstrations, local produce market and educational workshops.

Additional funding of £1,220.10 was received from MAB Seafood Festival Fund (Seafood Market Development and Growth Project). These monies were spent on marketing and promotional materials.

Source: Swansea Bay FLAG website and data provided by Lead Body, February 2020)

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D Project Contributions to FLAG Objectives Table D1 highlights which objectives are being delivered by completed or approved FLAG projects to date (as of 31st January 2020).

The assessment of the objectives that projects contribute to is undertaken by the Swansea Bay FLAG Lead Body when project applications are received. If the project idea or proposal meets at least one objective, the idea or application is submitted to FLAG members. During the final project approval process the Welsh Government also checks that the proposal meets the eligibility criteria within the LDS. Table D1.

LDS objectives being delivered by the projects completed/approved up to 31st January 2020 Objective

Project

1

2

Assessment of the oyster stock/population

3

4



5

6

7

8



9

10 11 12

   

Seafood cookery demonstrations at Swansea market

 



   

Fish is the dish 2020















 = Project completed, contributes to this objective.  = Project funding approved and being delivered, will contribute to this objective.

In addition to the FLAG-funded projects contributing towards the LDS objectives, actions undertaken by the FLAG animator further contributes to the LDS objectives. Examples of such actions include:    

Meeting with stakeholders to discuss project ideas; Providing advice and guidance on how to fill out FLAG application forms; Assisting applicants to register and apply for standard costs items Signposting them to other funding sources where they meet the criteria of those funding sources e.g. EMFF core fund.

Beyond this, the animator provides wider support, for example, in the form of assistance with checking and writing the application for FLAG funding.

As of 31st January 2020, there are several projects contributing to (or that will contribute to) objectives 9-12. These fall under Themes 3, 4 and 5 – to enhance and capitalise on the environmental assets of the fisheries and aquaculture areas; to promote social well-being and cultural heritage in fisheries and aquaculture areas; and local development and governance of local fisheries resources and maritime activities.

There is at least one project contributing to (or that will contribute to) objectives 1–4 and 7. These fall under themes 1 and 2 – to add value, create jobs, attract young people and promote innovations; and to support diversification inside or outside commercial fisheries.

All themes are therefore touched upon by the current portfolio of FLAG projects. However, there are a number of specific objectives that have not yet been addressed by any FLAG projects. These are objectives 5, 6 and 8 – to provide support to try out new processes or add value to products to help small companies in the fishing industry to grow; to support businesses to identify diversification

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opportunities and to re-skill within or outside the sector; and identification of alternative sources of income for the fishing industry. It is possible that the restriction on capital expenditure within project proposals may have influenced the lack of projects directly contributing to these objectives. However, these objectives should be borne in mind when evaluating further applications for funding, although it is recognised that it may not be possible for the FLAG to fund projects against all objectives if relevant and eligible applications are not forthcoming.

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E

Swansea Council

FLAG Expenditure

This section summarises the expenditure of the Swansea Bay FLAG at the time of the baseline evaluation (as of 31st January 2020). It can be noted that, further to changes in the Welsh Government guidance, a budget redistribution will take place early in 2020. The changes to the FLAG budget running costs, animation costs and project funding will be described in the final Swansea Bay FLAG evaluation report.

The total budget for the Swansea Bay FLAG is ÂŁ380,000, which is split between FLAG running costs, animation costs and project implementation as shown in Figure E1.

Within the project implementation budget ÂŁ132,245 is available to award as project funding. The remainder supports staff costs and travel related to project implementation.

Figure E1.

FLAG budget by type

Table E1 shows the FLAG expenditure to 31st January 2020 for completed projects, projects in development (funding allocation approved), full project applications awaiting approval (funding not allocated) and project ideas awaiting approval (funding not allocated).

Table E2 shows the FLAG project expenditure up to 31st January 2020 by activity type. The table shows that a range of activities have been funded, with the highest proportion of spend on projects (to 31st January 2020) with a focus on raising awareness and education about local seafood.

As noted in Table E1, two further feasibility studies are awaiting final approval for FLAG funding from the Welsh Government.

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Table E1.

Status of FLAG-funded projects (as of 31st January 2020)

Date

Project Title

Fully approved projects 03/10/2019 Oyster feasibility Study 03/10/2019 Seafood Cookery Demonstrations 11/10/2019 Fish is the Dish Sub-Total FLAG-approved projects awaiting WG approval 18/12/2019 Burry Port Auction House Feasibility Study 18/12/2019 Pontoon on River Taw Feasibility Study Sub-Total Project funding applications in development 13/01/2020 Project 1*

FLAG Funding (£) 4,999 7,055 61,939 73,993

Status Complete Complete Funding approved – in delivery

8,000

Awaiting approval from WG

4,999 12,999

Awaiting approval from WG

39,990.80

PIF approved, full application in development

Sub-Total 39,990.80 * Project title has been omitted as the project application is in development WG = Welsh Government; PIF = Project Idea Form Note the above totals do not include two additional project ideas discussed with the FLAG since 31st January 2020. If taken forward, these projects will be described in the final evaluation report in 2021.

Source: Data provided by Lead Body 4 March 2020

Table E2.

FLAG project expenditure up to 31st January 2020 by activity type

Activity type Feasibility study Seafood festival Educational programme Total

No. of projects 1 1 1 3

Total expenditure (£) 4999 7055 61,939 73,993

% of total FLAG project expenditure to 31st January 2020 7 9 84 100

Source: Data provided by Lead Body 2 March 2020

Out of the available funding for projects (£132,245), 56% (£73,993) has been spent or approved for spending up to 31st January 2020. However, funding for two further projects (total £12,999) has been approved by FLAG members and is awaiting approval from the Welsh Government whilst an additional project idea, requiring a budget of £39,990.80, is in development.

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F

Swansea Council

Stakeholder Consultation on FLAG Effectiveness and Relevance

Feedback on the perceived effectiveness of the Swansea Bay FLAG processes and the relevance of the FLAG’s objectives was obtained through consulting, via telephone interviews or via email, with FLAG members and other stakeholders. Stakeholder feedback was obtained in relation to:     

The application process, including support and guidance during the process; The relevance of the funding criteria to the local fisheries and aquaculture community; How effectively the FLAG is undertaking its role; Benefits of the projects delivered; and Recommendations about the process for the remainder of the funding phase or for future funding programmes

In total four stakeholders provided feedback for this baseline evaluation, in addition to information provided by the Lead Body and the Welsh Government. This feedback has been summarised below. It should be noted that due to the relatively small number of projects funded and delivered at the time of writing this baseline evaluation, only feedback which cannot be linked to individuals has been included for purposes of confidentiality.

The application process 

  

The application process is complicated and not clear, and the Welsh Government guidance has been confused and incomplete from the start. Several changes in the guidance compounded this issue.

The animator appeared to have been given the wrong information and guidance from the start.

Wales is significantly behind England, Scotland and Ireland with respect to FLAG approved activity due to the capital spending issue greatly restricting eligibility.

An application was not made due to capital funding restriction

Relevance of the funding criteria to the needs of the local fisheries and aquaculture sectors        

The FLAG funding currently does not meet the needs of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The spend to date has been restricted to revenue spending which is useful but the fishing. community would benefit from having more capital investment to improve safety and welfare.

Other FLAG regions (England, Scotland and Ireland) have a capital allowance allowing them to support a wider range of projects providing a variety of support.

The LDS is a not a good use of administrative time and effort.

The LDS refers to food festivals but Welsh Government had not allocated money for festivals.

FLAG funding does not provide any benefit if capital purchases cannot be kept for over 12 months.

Didn’t make an application due to capital funding restriction.

The [EU funding] mechanism as a whole is the problem. The money has not gone to help productive enterprise.

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Effectiveness of the FLAG in undertaking its role       

The FLAG is meeting regularly but meetings have been poorly attended.

Encouraging the fishermen to engage has been hard due to the restrictions on eligible projects for funding.

Applications are generally supported by the FLAG but the variety in types of project has been limited.

Not undertaking the role very effectively. Most money spent on administrative things.

Very difficult to get money that is useful for fishermen.

Not really driven by members as the fishing community is relatively small and there is difficulty in engaging with commercial fishermen.

Money spent is not particularly usefully spent, like most EU money.

Benefits of the projects delivered  



Projects that have been delivered by the FLAG have been well received.

The cookery demonstration held in Swansea Market generated a large crowd and helped boost following and awareness of the FLAG funding scheme, whilst supporting fishing businesses in the region.

The market seafood demonstrations went well.

Recommendations for the remainder of the funding phase or future funding  



F.1

The change in capital spend restriction may be too late.

If the Welsh Government is serious about developing a co-management approach [regulators and industry] to fisheries in the future, it is worth looking at how the FLAG could be restructured to have a role. To be effective it would need adequate resources and staff expertise to deliver more effective management and development of fisheries.

There is a need for communication and information. It would be helpful if funding officers went to ports, to tell fishermen what funding is available, how to access it and what the criteria are that they need to follow. Alternatively, this information could be put into other information sources already circulated to fishermen by the Welsh Government, for example, the monthly licence variation from the Welsh Government fisheries department.

Summary

In general, where stakeholders provided feedback on the application process, it was described as complicated and unclear, an issue caused at least in part by the Welsh Government’s guidance on EMFF FLAG funding. This issue which was perceived to be compounded by several changes to this guidance.

With regard to the relevance of the funding criteria to the needs of local fisheries and aquaculture sectors, a key issue raised by all stakeholders who provided feedback was the exclusion of projects that required capital spend. It was perceived that the EMFF FLAG funding in Wales (to date) had been restricted by this issue, and this was in contrast to FLAGs in England, Scotland and Ireland which were able to fund a wider range of projects providing a variety of support. Furthermore, opinion was expressed that the capital expenditure restriction had resulted in difficulties in engaging the local fishing communities with the FLAG. Whilst the lifting of the restriction was considered to be a good development, one stakeholder expressed concern that it may be too late in the programme to be

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beneficial to the local fisheries and aquaculture community (given that all project applications must be approved by December 2020). To facilitate the fishing community engaging with the FLAG (or any other future funding project), one stakeholder suggested that more communication and information would be useful, either through funding officers visiting fishing ports/quays to explain what funding is available and how they may access it, including with respect to the criteria that needs to be met.

Alternatively, such information could be distributed through established communications from fisheries regulators.

Finally, it should be noted that several stakeholders provided positive feedback on the seafood cookery demonstration project delivered in 2019, including that they felt it had raised awareness of the FLAG and local seafood and hence provided support for local fisheries.

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