Call for Expressions of Interest for Selection as a Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) under the EMFAF 2021-2027

The Fisheries Local Action Group Programme was first established in Ireland in 2013 under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and continued under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

(EMFF). Under the initial Programme 6 FLAGs were established around the Irish coast, this increased to 7 under the EMFF Programme.

Interested groups in coastal areas are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) so that they may be considered for selection as the FLAG for their respective area in order to implement a Local Development Strategy (LDS). Successful applicants will receive preparatory support to

develop the LDS, which if of an adequate standard, will be used to prioritise local development projects supported by funds from the EMFAF.

This will be a multistage process consisting of:

Stage 1

Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from potential FLAGs that meet the mandatory criteria

Stage 2

Selection of FLAGs based on selection criteria

Stage 3

Development of Local Development Strategies

Stage 4

Evaluation of Local Development Strategies

Stage 5

Approval of Local Development Strategies

Stage 6

Implementation of approved Local Development Strategies

The area proposed by prospective FLAG Groups must meet the following criteria:

• The area proposed must have at least one boundary comprising the coastline.
• The area must have a significant level of employment in fisheries or
• The population of coastal District Electoral Divisions for proposed area, excluding those that are part of towns or cities with a population of 50,000 or more, must be over 70,000
• The area must have a minimum of 150 vessels in all fleet segments on the Fleet Register and preferably not more than 400
• The area proposed must have no more than one National Fishery Harbour Centre.

The territory for each FLAG area is required to be unique, so where more than one proposal is received concerning any particular area, BIM will liaise with the groups concerned to ensure the

integrity of each FLAG area proposed.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is CoB Monday 5th June 2023

Further details are available in the FLAG EoI Brochure here