Axis 4 of the EFF: supporting women in fisheries areas Monica Burch, FARNET Support Unit

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1 Axis 4 of the EFF: supporting women in fisheries areas Monica Burch, FARNET Support Unit European Parliament Hearing, 14th October

2 Axis 4 of the EFF, supporting women in fisheries areas What is Axis 4? Financial support for the sustainable development of fisheries areas, implemented by Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) What is eligible for support? How can women benefit? 2

3 Axis 4: A territorial approach Dwindling resources Fleet over capacity Sectoral challenges Lack of competitiveness on global markets Fragility of small scale coastal fisheries Lack of integration and organisation of the filiere. Low education levels Pressure on fuel and other costs. Remoteness, low density Territorial challenges Lack of alternative employment Pressure on space from other sectors urbanisation, 2nd homes, tourism Environmental degradation Decreasing social cohesion Women as a link between the sector and the community & as drivers for diversification 3

4 Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) local development strategy for a local area By a local partnership: - Local decision-making on projects to be funded - public-private partnership (fisheries sector, local public bodies, private enterprise, social & environmental oganisations - «animation» staff to mobilise and support local stakeholders to develop projects EP study: 50% of FLAG Managers female / 22% of FLAG decision-making bodies female / 29% of strategies have a focus on women / 19% of projects funded have a female beneficiary or target audience 4

5 What can FLAGs fund? Eligible Measures % Budget Type of project Types of beneficiaries (a) strengthening the competi tiveness of the Mainly ALL fishing areas ; private (b) restructuring and redirecting economic Private F and relate d activities especially eco- tourism, (c) diversifying activities Mainly F and related Private (d) adding value to fisheries products; Private F+ relat ed + unemployed (e) supporting small fisheries and tourism related infrastructure and services Private + Public Public auth + other workers + unemployed (f)* protecting the environment, heritage and villages. Public Public authorities (g) Supporting fisheries sector when damaged by natural or industrial disasters ; Private Workers in the F sector (h)* P romoting inter-regional and trans -national cooperation Public Group members (i)* Acquiring skills and preparing the strategy Up to15% Public Group members Other workers (j)* contributing to the running costs of the groups. Up to 10% Public Group Blue = mainly fishing sector. Yellow = public actions Pink = all sectors + pubic/private 5

6 826 M of public investment for the sustainable development of fisheries areas MS # of FLAGs Average FLAG budget / M Belgium Bulgaria 6 4 Cyprus 1 2 Denmark Estonia Finland 8 1 France 11 1 Germany Greece Ireland Italy Latvia 24 1 Lithuania Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovenia 1 3 Spain Sweden UK 22 1 Total countries - 13% of the EFF M public investment managed by over 300 FLAGs 6

7 FLAG support to women in fisheries areas Organisation & networking of women in the fisheries sector Training Financial support to develop economic activities and improve quality of life Project development support 7

8 FLAG support to women in fisheries areas Improving the organisation & networking of women in the fisheries sector Associations and networks as a platform for visibility, recognition, representation and transfer of experience Supported: - Setting up of local women s associations - Women s Network Entrepreneurship (Andalusia) - Participation in annual national conferences for women in fisheries (Spain) and EU-wide FLAG conference (FARNET) - Development of professional networker qualification (Galicia) 8

9 FLAG support to women in fisheries areas providing training to women IT, business management, customer service, new activities Supported: - IT courses for shellfish gatherers - Training in net mending - Training in fish handling and processing - Training in management and administration - Courses in marketing and advertising - Fish-skin tanning courses (Finland, France) 9

10 FLAG support to women in fisheries areas financial support to improve quality of life working conditions, child care, education, environment Supported: - Basic equipment to support production work (small boat to transfer shellfish, sorting machine ) - Changing room for shellfish gathererers - Training centre (a la carte courses) - Wifi antenna for fishing boat for crew to keep in contact with family (while promoting use of ITs) - Canteen and childcare service 10

11 FLAG support to women in fisheries areas financial support to develop economic activities adding value to local fisheries products, diversification within the fisheries sector, diversification into new sectors Supported: - Marketing and promotion of local fisheries products (direct sales, events, tasting sessions, recipe books, guided tours, links with restaurants ) - Support for developing new processed products - Renovation of old fishing boat for tourism - Restaurants/ hotels run by fishermen s wives - Ice-cream parlour set up by a fishermen s daughter 11

12 Conclusions With women s ideas, flexibility and drive, Axis 4 can offer women in fishing communities opportunities to: establish effective associations to improve organisation, visibility and recognition participate in decisions of what and how to improve in their communities access finance to improve their working conditions AND develop existing and new economic activities. 12

13 Thank-you for your attention FARNET Support Unit 38 Rue de la Loi 1040 Bruxelles Join the FARNET Linked-in discussion group for women in fisheries monica.burch@farnet.eu 13