Flag South

The FLAG South area comprises the coastal zone of County Cork, as well as inhabited islands including the Gaeltacht area – Oileán Chléire. The FLAG region encompasses a total population of 120,584, covering 20.6% of County Cork’s population within 10km of the coastline.

Cork demonstrates strong fishing connections with major harbours, including Castletownbere, which is the largest whitefish port in Ireland, Cobh, Ballycotton, Kinsale and Union Hall. Overall, the FLAG South area recorded a value of €152.5 million in fish landings in 2022, whilst the aquaculture sector generated a sales value of €9.3 million. An estimated 3.3% of all coastal employment in FLAG South was in direct seafood employment, with a further 6.4% being in downstream seafood employment. On average seafood processing companies in FLAG South employed the largest number of persons per company, across all seven FLAG regions. Fishing and tourism activities occur at a relatively large number of smaller harbours and piers along the coastline.

FLAG South Strategy

Our strategy describes the economy and community which FLAG South seeks to build, with the ambition to further improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of coastal communities in the FLAG South area. This is in line with the strategy vision:

“FLAG South supports sustainable fishing and aquaculture coastal communities’ initiatives, prioritising Small Scale Coastal Fisheries and supporting blue economy enterprises and tourism.”

This can be delivered through the following actions:

Diversify and enhance the income of individuals dependant on seafood and the blue economy in the coastal community

Identify innovations that can lead to a transition towards smarter growth in coastal area

Develop and promote niche tourism

Build capacity to develop greater co-operation between all relevant stakeholders in coastal communities

Support community involvement in the management of Ireland’s coastal resource to sustain its physical character and environmental quality

Actions to protect and promote the sense of place and culture and the quality, character and distinctiveness of the Irish coastal communities.

To achieve these actions FLAG South has selected the following areas of activity priority:

Creating and maintaining jobs in coastal areas

Adding value to fisheries and aquaculture products

Promoting innovation in fisheries and aquaculture and supporting diversification inside and outside commercial fisheries

Lifelong learning and attracting young people in fisheries and aquaculture areas

Strengthening the role of fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities in local development

Promoting social well-being and cultural heritage in fisheries and aquaculture areas

Promoting the environmental assets of the fisheries and aquaculture areas and mitigation of climate change.

To view the full FLAG South Strategy click Here