Hjørring and Frederikshavn municipalities are again hit by cuts when it comes to the government’s proposal for the Finance Act for 2025.
The FLAG pool, which has supported sustainable development and restructuring in local fishing areas, is to be closed down, according to a press release from FLAG Nord on Thursday.
It does not look good for coastal communities and fishing areas in North Jutland and could end up with serious consequences.
Since 2007, FLAG has been a central player in promoting local business development in coastal and fishing areas across the country.
In the past two years, FLAG Nord has, among other things, supported sorting services for the fishermen, better waste water management for the maritime industry, floating guide vanes and upgrading of Løkken Moleleje’s spill house.
The overall strategy for the support has been to preserve and create jobs and preserve the fishing environment in Frederikshavn and Hjørring municipalities.
But now the government is planning to move the 8 million kroner allocated annually to the FLAG scheme to the rural district pool, which means that the independent commercial subsidy scheme for fishing areas will stop.
It may seem like a small saving, but it can have major consequences locally.
– A saving of only 1.5 man-years in the state administration means a serious setback for the local work to preserve and develop the fishing areas in North Jutland and to continue the necessary transition to new businesses and jobs in the port environment, says Svend Bjørnager, who is the head of FLAG Nord, in the press release.
He adds that small businesses that depend on local support and advice will be left without help to complete their projects if the local FLAG pool is closed.
Voluntary work is lost
There are many volunteers who have committed themselves to the local fishing community and this will be lost.
There are 15 board members and two deputies on FLAG Nord’s board.
– We are disappointed that this work is not appreciated by the government, says Svend Bjørnager in the press release.
FLAG has provided support for both green transition in fishing, new business initiatives and tourism development in port environments, which has had a positive effect on growth and employment in fishing areas.
It appears from the press release that FLAG Nord calls on the government to reconsider the decision to close down the FLAG scheme in order to ensure continued positive development in the fishing areas.
2024-10-17 14:34:00
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