The Cleddau to Coast FLAG was a well-run strategic programme of fisheries community support, which in practical terms ran from 2019 to 2023.  The programme provided £326,737 of support through 14 projects, some of which covered the whole of the Pembrokeshire coast, such as the Aquaculture Road map and others which were more local, such as the Saundersfoot Davit.

 

Overall, the programme has been successful, despite its small size, drawn out implementation and administrative challenges.  It has demonstrated that there is a clear need for this sort of provision.  The clear challenge is to identify where funds might come from that might be targeted on fishing communities as has been the case with the FLAG and also (and this may be even harder), how the coordination which the FLAG achieved might be replaced along with the facilitating role of the animateur, which has demonstrated its value in this programme. 

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​The programme met with significant hurdles in the administration of applications and claims and in decision-making regarding eligibility and other programme level decisions.  The source of these issues appeared to be under-resourcing of the administrative function by Welsh Government and followed incorrect assumptions about delegation to Welsh delivery bodies, which took a long time to address.  These delays meant the programme got off to a very slow start and the incorrect assumptions made by WG may have contributed to the apparent under-resourcing of the administrative function.

 

Finally, the role played by the team at Pembrokeshire County Council should not be under-estimated.  Beneficiaries highlighted their importance and without their ability to steady the ship, advocate for Pembrokeshire coastal communities and to provide support to the FLAG and its programme, in some cases beyond what was funded, the programme would not have been anywhere near as successful and the communities would not now be benefiting from a legacy of useful and relevant projects.