Virumaa Rannakalurid | Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ

What Virumaa Rannakalurid | Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ does

Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ (trading as Virumaa Rannakalurid) is an Estonian non-profit fishermen's association founded on 12 March 2007 in Eisma, Lääne-Virumaa, and headquartered at Piiri 6, Võsu. It functions as the officially designated Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) for the coastal Virumaa region, administering European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMKVF) and prior European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMKF) support for Ida- and Lääne-Virumaa. Its members comprise coastal fishing enterprises, NGOs, and local municipalities.

The organization's core activities span four service areas: (1) EU fund project management — running periodic application rounds, evaluating submissions, and distributing grants for fishing infrastructure, diversification, environmental, and cultural-heritage projects; (2) international cooperation projects — multi-country study trips and knowledge exchange with Finnish LEADER groups, Irish, French, Greek, Spanish, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Italian fisheries partners; (3) training and education — professional fisherman certification, food hygiene courses, and youth fishing and sailing camps such as the 'Nuoret Seprat – Noored Sõbrad' program; and (4) public outreach through the annual Open Fish Ports Day event. It operates no proprietary technology, relying on a standard website and Estonia's national e-PRIA grant application system.

Funding is derived entirely from EU fisheries program allocations, membership fees, and project co-funding; the entity has no commercial revenue model, charges no fees, and is governed by an elected board under Estonian non-profit association law. The current executive director (tegevjuht) is Liisi Marits, supported by a minimal staff. Operational continuity is anchored to the EMKVF 2021-2027 funding cycle and the association's own 2023-2030 strategy.

Name

Virumaa Rannakalurid | Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ

Legal name

Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ

Website

https://vrky.ee

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ is an Estonian non-profit fishermen's association designated as the Fisheries Local Action Group for Ida- and Lääne-Virumaa, administering EU EMKVF/EMKF grants, training, and international cooperation for coastal fishermen, NGOs, and municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fisheries Association / EU Grant Administration Services

NAICS

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11), Fishing (1141), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112), Fishing (11411)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Fisheries local action group
• EU EMKVF grant administration
• Coastal fisheries development
• Fishermen association services
• Community-led local development

Headquarters

HQ city

Võsu

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. EU Fishing Fund Support Administration: The association serves as a Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) administering European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF/EMKVF) support for the Virumaa coastal fishing region. They receive administrative funding and distribute project support to members and local stakeholders.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ is a non-profit fishermen's association acting as the officially designated Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) for the Virumaa coastal fishing region in Estonia. It administers European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMKVF/EMKF) project grants for fishermen, fish processors, and municipalities, and delivers international cooperation projects, professional training and certification courses, youth fishing camps, and annual community events such as Open Fish Ports Day.

Product overview

Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ is a non-profit fishermen's association that serves as a community-led local development initiative for the Virumaa coastal fishing region. The organization operates as a multi-faceted service provider, managing EU-funded project grants (EMKVF 2021-2027 and EMKF 2014-2020), organizing international cooperation projects, delivering training and professional certification programs, and hosting public events like Open Fishing Ports Day. The core offering consists of four interconnected service areas: grant management and distribution for fishing infrastructure and diversification projects; international cooperation projects for knowledge exchange; professional education and skills training; and community outreach events. The organization functions as an intermediary body connecting fishermen, local governments, and EU funding sources rather than operating a traditional technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMKVF Project Management Services Management of European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMKVF) project grants for the Virumaa coastal fishing region in Estonia, including application processing, project evaluation, and fund distribution for fishing infrastructure, diversification, and marine tradition projects. Targeted at professional coastal fishermen, fish processors, fishing enterprises, and coastal municipalities in Ida- and Lääne-Virumaa who apply through the e-PRIA system.
• International Cooperation Projects International cooperation projects that bring together fishing communities from Estonia and partner FLAGs in Finland, Ireland, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, France, Italy, and Spain for knowledge exchange, study trips, and experience sharing in sustainable fishing practices. Intended for association members, fisheries professionals, and partner organizations.
• Training and Education Programs Professional certification courses, skill development workshops, food hygiene training for fish processors, and youth fishing and sailing camps designed to develop next-generation fishermen and qualified fishing-industry professionals. Intended for fishermen, fish processors, and young people in coastal Virumaa communities.
• Open Fish Ports Day Annual public showcase event at coastal fishing ports promoting fishermen's work, local fish products, and culinary demonstrations to encourage fish consumption and public understanding of coastal fishing heritage. Open to members, partners, and the general public in coordination with peer Estonian FLAGs (Liivi Lahe, Läänemaa, Saarte, Harju, Võrtsjärve, Hiiukala, and Peipsi).

Quantifiable outcome

• 538 cormorant eggs oiled in 538 nests across 2,455 eggs on Lõuna-Uhtju island in 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MTÜ HiiukalacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Key partner in Ireland and France study trip project 2023 with total budget of 91,462.50 EUR, and Normandy/Hauts-de-France study trip 2023 with 28 participants.
• MTÜ Liivi Lahe KalanduskogucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Core partner in Open Fish Ports Day events across Estonia, covering Pärnumaa, Läänemaa, Virumaa, Saaremaa, Võrtsjärv, Peipsi, and Harjumaa regions.
• MTÜ Läänemaa Rannakalanduse SeltscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Core partner in Open Fish Ports Day events and Greece study trip 2022, seafood expo visits.
• MTÜ Saarte KalandusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Open Fish Ports Day events and Barcelona Seafood Expo 2022 cooperation project.
• MTÜ Harju KalandusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Open Fish Ports Day events across Estonia.
• MTÜ Võrtsjärve KalanduspiirkondminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Open Fish Ports Day events and study trips to Võrtsjärv fishing region.
• MTÜ Virumaa KoostöökoguminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Cooperation partner in the 'Nuoret Seprat' youth cooperation project 2017-2019, focused on youth skills development in fishing communities.
• SEPRA (Soome LEADER tegevusgrupp)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Finnish LEADER action group partner in youth cooperation project with focus on modern cooperation and traditional trade exchange ideas.
• ESKO (Kalanduse algatusrühm)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Finnish fishing initiative group partner in youth cooperation project focused on fishing skills and environmental knowledge.
• Interfin OYminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Finnish partner in youth cooperation project providing expertise in fishing and entrepreneurship development.
• MTÜ Peipsi Kalanduspiirkonna Arendajate KogucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Key cooperation partner in multiple projects including Bulgaria-Romania study trip, Paris SIAL food fair visit, Brussels Seafood Expo, Gotland study trip, and local fish promotion projects. One of the most frequent collaboration partners.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• MTÜ Virumaa Koostöökogu: LEADER local action group operating in the same Virumaa region. Comparable as a community-led local development NGO administering EU rural-development (rather than fisheries) funds, often sharing members and project partners with the subject FLAG.
• SEPRA (Leader-toimintaryhmä): Finnish LEADER action group that partnered with Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing in the 2017-2019 Nuoret Seprat youth cooperation project. Comparable as a Nordic CLLD-style fisheries/rural development association, though operating under Finnish rather than Estonian program rules.

Direct peers

• MTÜ Liivi Lahe Kalanduskogu: Estonian Fisheries Local Action Group covering the Liivi Bay region. Listed as a core cooperation partner of Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing in Open Fish Ports Day events, making it a directly comparable FLAG administering EMKVF support for its own coastal territory.
• MTÜ Harju Kalandus: FLAG covering the Harjumaa coastal area including parts of northern Estonia. Co-executes Open Fish Ports Day with the subject company, performing an identical fisheries CLLD role on the opposite side of the Gulf of Finland.
• MTÜ Peipsi Kalanduspiirkonna Arendajate Kogu: FLAG covering Lake Peipsi fisheries. Identified as one of the most frequent cooperation partners of the subject company across multiple international study trips and the Open Fish Ports Day initiative, performing the same fund-administration and community-development function.
• MTÜ Hiiukala: FLAG for the Hiiumaa island fisheries area. Key partner in the Ireland and France 2023 study-trip cooperation projects with the subject company, executing the same FLAG mandate for an island community.
• MTÜ Saarte Kalandus: FLAG for the Saaremaa and islands fishing area. Partner of Virumaa Rannakalurid in Open Fish Ports Day and the Barcelona Seafood Expo 2022, operating an equivalent EMKVF grant-administration model for an island coastal community.
• MTÜ Võrtsjärve Kalanduspiirkond: FLAG for Lake Võrtsjärv inland fishery. Partner of the subject company in fish-popularization projects, comparable as a FLAG administering EMKVF resources for a fishing community.
• MTÜ Läänemaa Rannakalanduse Selts: Estonian FLAG for the Läänemaa coastal area. Frequently co-executes study trips and seafood expo visits with Virumaa Rannakalurid, making it the closest functional peer in scale and remit within the Estonian FLAG network.

Broad incumbents

• FARNET (European Fisheries Areas Network): EU-wide support unit for all FLAGs, run by the European Commission DG MARE. Comparable as the institutional umbrella and capacity-building partner serving the same Fisheries Local Action Group model across Europe, including Estonian members like Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Nuoret-Seprat-Noored-Sõbrad-1830542247203935

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Virumaa Rannakalurid | Virumaa Rannakalurite Ühing MTÜ