Good practice:

Lamprey catching and cooking – from tradition to a recognized brand

Coastal municipalities of Riga region, in finding ways to attract tourists, creating business opportunities and building local identity are using unique local natural and cultural values and coastal fishing activities. Lamprey (def. a long slender primitive eel-like freshwater and saltwater fish of the Petromyzontidae family, with a sucking mouth with rasping teeth but no jaw) catching and cooking in Carnikava and Salacgrīva municipalities is a historic traditional coastal fishing activity. It requires traditional ecological knowledge, specific fishing tools and skills, existing fishing community and culinary knowledge. The tradition of lamprey catching dates back to the 17th century and it has been one of the main sources of income in the area for fisherman and their families. Nowadays the fishing stock of lamprey is diminishing and it has become an exclusive activity requiring attention of coastal communities to protect and promote this cultural value.
Thus, lamprey catching and cooking has become the local brand, it attracts visitors’ attention, Carnikava Lamprey is registered under the European Register of Protected Geographical Indications, Lamprey festival is organized in best years attended by around 30 000 visitors, facilitates creation of local products and activates local fishing community. Local municipality supports the development of this tourism product.
Stakeholders: fishermen,their families, local communities, local history centres, small business.

Sources: municipality, local entrepreneurs, EU projects.
Funding: amount of funding to implement the practice depends on the scale the practice. Indicative amount per year: 90 000 EUR:

Carnikava Lamprey is registered under the European Register of Protected Geographical Indications. Achieved by local community initiative. Provides benefits for branding and promoting of specific coastal municipality on EU level.
Lamprey annual festival – important activity that attracts tourists, promotes traditional local historical heritage, opens opportunities for local entrepreneurs. More than 30 000 visitors per event to municipality of 9525 (data of 2019).

Cooperation with local community required: fishermen, their families, local cultural heritage promoters, local decision makers.
Actions for renewal of the lamprey fishing stock should be implemented.
Fragmented funding (on yearly basis).
Need for added value on fishing tourism products.

Every coastal place has a tradition, an occupation, a product that the locals have produced, consumed, noticed. It creates the identity and uniqueness of the place. Tourism services that integrate local natural and cultural heritage are appropriate for sustainable tourism destinations that do not target mass tourism.
Tourism product – lamprey catching and cooking – based on traditional ecological knowledge can be linked to branding of a concrete place and be recognised beyond country borders.
Fish stocks are decreasing all over EU, therefore, use of the resource goes hand in hand with renewal and creation of tourism products with added value (not only lamprey tasting, but also other activities - participation in lamprey fishing, renewal of the fishing fund, dinner on lamprey path, educational events involving, festivals, production of attractive souvenirs ( e.g. lamprey packaging).
Success is based on strong local partnerships and their interaction.