FISH-IN-CORNER
Black Sea, Constanta, 17 July 2015
Local development in the framework of the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (EMFF)
On 17 July 2015, the National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa” Constanta hosted a meeting focused on debating the opportunities for Local development in the framework of the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (EMFF). Apart from local authorities, the meeting was also attended by stakeholders in the fisheries sector, namely the director of the Maritime Directorate of NAFA Constanta (National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture), Mr. Marius Nicolae, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, as well as fishermen organizations (Mr. Marian Sorin-Manaila, “Pro-pescador” Fishermen Organization). This meeting was an excellent opportunity for a MareFrame FISH-IN-CORNER activity, as it was focused on the need to establish new Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), partnerships between fisheries actors and other local private and public stakeholders. Together, they design and implement a bottom-up strategy that fits and addresses their area’s needs to increase economic, social and environmental welfare. More than 300 FLAGs in 21 EU Member States involve thousands of local stakeholders as project promoters and FLAG members. In the Romanian Black Sea coastal zone there are three FLAGS: Fisheries Local Action Group for Sustainable Fisheries in the Danube Delta, Tulcea County (contact person: Raluca Bumbac, flag.delta@yahoo.com), Fisheries Local Action Group for Northern Dobrogea (contact person: Costin Rasauteanu, office@flagnord.ro) and Fisheries Local Action Group for Southern Dobrogea (contact person: Berghin Osman office@flagsud.ro)
Ecosystem-based management of fisheries is a key concern of this operational programme, as the eligible operations include establishing small infrastructure for tourism in coastal areas, creating facilities for typical fisheries ecotourism activities, promoting local/specific products, capitalizing new resources in fisheries, creating facilities for craftsmanship and promoting fisheries overall, all aimed at ensuring a sustainable exploitation of stocks. The European Fisheries Areas Network (FARNET) brings together all fisheries areas supported by priority Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). Through information exchange and a dedicated support unit, this network aims to assist the different stakeholders involved in the sustainable development of fisheries areas at local, regional, national and European level. The core of the network is made up of over 300 Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs). These public-private partnerships, set up at local level, work towards the sustainable development of their areas. Based in 21 Member States, these FLAGs each manage a budget to support a range of projects proposed and carried out by a wide variety of local stakeholders.
