Press Releases week beginning 20 January 2020

Successful Hastings FLAG Programme nears completion

Hastings FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) is a community led local development programme funded by the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMMF). Hastings Borough Council successfully bid for a second round of funding and were one of six areas in England to gain £800,000 to support Hastings fishing fleet and the wider community through social, economic and environmental projects.

Kim Forward, lead councillor for regeneration said, "After successfully delivering 18 projects, the FLAG programme is coming to an end in March 2020. There have been great achievements including developing a Hastings Fish Brand; a health, fitness and wellbeing project (Fit to Fish) at the heart of the fishing community; a pop up fish restaurant (Aspiring Chefs' Academy) educating young people about the industry; improving efficiency in the fish market and a study into the sustainable fishing of cuttlefish."

FLAG is made up of a partnership between representatives from the fishing industry and other local private, public and voluntary sector stakeholders. Together they approved 18 projects to 14 organisations within three themes; Sustainable Fleet and Supply Chain, The Environment and The Place.

As well as supporting applicants to apply for the funding, the FLAG have also offered free support to individual fishers to be able to apply for further funding from the core EMFF pot and the new Maritime Fisheries Fund (MFF) pot.

Steve Manwaring, FLAG Board chair said, "This whole programme has been based on strong partnership working and it's been great to be part of a diverse programme which has supported our local fishing industry in all sorts of different ways".