Fisheries Policy for Sustainable Development: Coastal Models and Limitations Derived from Participation and Power Organisation in Atlantic FLAGs in Spain and Portugal

Abstract

The incorporation of territorial development into the Common Fisheries Policy has allowed for the decentralised and participatory management of part of its funds. In fact, the criteria for sustainable development in fishing zones follow the guidelines of Community‐Led Local Development. This work critically examines the implementation process of Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund in two areas of the Iberian Peninsula’s Atlantic coast as case studies, looking into the creation of Fishery Local Action Groups and the analysis of the planning and execution phases of the funds. The results show, on the one hand, the limited development of this approach and the doubts about the effectiveness of area‐based partnerships as tools for local development, and on the other, the benefits for the revitalisation of the fishing sector, especially in the long term.

Changes of Dynamics in Local Productive Systems Based on the Iberian Pig Transformation Industry in Western Sierra Morena (Spain)

“…The study of LPSs as rural industrialisation models based on their endogenous potential, quasi by analogy, passes to other disciplines, gaining special interest for territorial studies [25] despite a changing of themes. Thus, from a local development perspective [26], this study encompasses the elements of territorial innovation [25,27,28], leadership and territorial management [29], political actions and governance [30,31], territorial marketing [32] as well as analysis of the LPS's strength in crises [33][34][35].…”

Fishing Tourism as an Opportunity for Sustainable Rural Development—The Case of Galicia, Spain

“…The development of Axis 4 of the EFF (2007-2013), specifically focused in the sustainable development of fisheries areas, with the aim of supporting economic diversification, played a fundamental role in the dissemination of fishing tourism in Galicia [53], as stated in the preamble of the Galician Fishing Law. Thus, in 2008 the creation of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) began with the selection of 7 groups and 7 fisheries areas, and later expanded to 8 [24]. FLAGs design LDS that guide European and regional investment in order to strengthen the economy of fishing communities through economic diversification, increasing the income of marine professionals and protecting employment.…”

“…Among them was the creation of the Marine Tourism Product Club, Mar Galaica, launched in 2012 with EFF funds, which generated the interest of all the FLAGs, and had the support of the fishing and tourism departments of the Galician government [76]. Mar Galaica was created with the aim of building a platform for the dissemination of activities related to the fishing leisure offer and its cultural heritage [24,40]. In the current programming period (2014-2020), economic diversification activities continue to be funded in coastal communities, and there is a commitment to fishing tourism projects, gastronomy and restaurants, and fishing environmental services and educational activities (Supplementary material, Tables S1 and S2).…”

“…In this way, a decentralised management of European funds was adopted in coastal areas dependent on fishing. This has been the case of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) financed with funds specifically allocated for the sustainable development of fishing areas from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (2014-2020) [21][22][23][24][25].…”

Changes of Dynamics in Local Productive Systems Based on the Iberian Pig Transformation Industry in Western Sierra Morena (Spain)

“…The study of LPS as rural industrialisation models based on their endogenous potential, quasi by analogy, passes to other disciplines, gaining special interest for territorial studies [25] despite changing of the themes. Thus, from local development perspective [26] this study encompasses the elements of territorial innovation [25,27,28], leadership and territorial management [29], political actions and governance [30,31], territorial marketing [32] or its strength in crisis situations [33][34][35].…”