The Living Fishing Port | Møns Bank

The Living Fishing Port

How do you create growth in coastal communities where ideas and commitment are present, but the resources to develop large projects are often lacking? You call Møns Bank...

The Living Fishing Port is based in Rødvig, but the perspective reaches much further. The organization functions as a project engine and development platform for the coastal communities around Faxe Bugt and works across maritime industries, port development, tourism, nature, bioeconomy and circular value chains.

The goal is to bring together companies, ports, municipalities, research institutions and authorities on projects that can attract external funding and create new opportunities for business.

Local ideas must be raised collectively

According to chairman Karl Michael Sloth, the organization's most important task is to ensure that good local ideas do not stall because the necessary capacity or the right connections are missing.

"We contacted Møns Bank, which could immediately see the perspectives in our work,” he says. “The bank is an important sparring partner. It has provided financing and has a strong local network, where there are opportunities to reach out to other relevant partners so that projects and ideas can be lifted together. In its essence, it’s the shareholding mindset we’re dealing with here. When companies, organizations and local communities work together, we can create results that none of us could lift alone."

Collaboration is at the core of The Living Fishing Port's development model. The starting point is local ideas and needs, which through partnerships, project development and financing can be developed into projects with regional, national or international reach.

From local initiatives

to international projects

The organization has already secured support for several projects and participates in a number of national and international collaborations. Among the approved projects are Living Coast under Interreg Baltic Sea Region and ORGAQUA, which bring together universities, companies and development actors around new solutions in marine resources and bioeconomy. At the same time, a growing portfolio of projects is being developed in areas including seaweed, biomaterials, port development and circular value chains.

In less than two years the development platform has built an extensive network of companies, ports, universities, authorities and international partners. This means that local companies gain access to competencies and development opportunities that normally lie far beyond the reach of the individual community.

The bank also sees the potential

At Møns Bank, the development is followed with great interest.

"We experience a strong commitment behind The Living Fishing Port and a very exciting focus on creating development based on local strengths. It aligns well with our ambition to support growth and development in the areas where we are present," says the head of business Jacob Lykke Bruun.

He points out that many companies today need both financial solutions, competencies and networks to realize larger development projects.

"When companies, municipalities, research environments and organizations come together around common projects, new opportunities often arise. That type of collaboration can help create lasting value in local communities."

Next steps are to strengthen the organization

The Living Fishing Port now faces the next development phase, where the organization will establish a permanent secretariat, strengthen project management and develop a membership-based maritime cluster organization. The aim is to create a lasting regional development capacity that can support business, ports and local communities for many years to come.

According to branch manager Jan Friis Møller, the initiative contains significant potential for the entire area around Faxe Bugt.

"We believe that strong local communities are built through collaboration. The Living Fishing Port works to bring people, companies and knowledge together across traditional boundaries, and that can help create new opportunities for both business and local communities."

He also emphasizes that Møns Bank historically has focused on supporting initiatives that contribute to local development.

"When good ideas are linked with strong partnerships and a long-term perspective, it can help create growth and activity that benefits many."

For Karl Michael Sloth, it ultimately is about creating a platform where local actors can more easily translate ambitions into action.

"An important part of the next step is that we would like to gather companies, ports and organizations around Faxe Bugt as members of the shared secretariat. The idea is that in this way we build a common development capacity that the individual company or organization normally does not have – including to develop new projects, bring the right partnerships together and attract external funding, not least through EU programs and other larger funds.

Here we also see Møns Bank and the bank's strong local network as an important playing partner in bringing the actors together around the model," concludes Karl Michael Sloth.

Facts: The Living Fishing Port

• Established with the starting point in Rødvig Fishing Port.
• Works on the development of the coastal communities around Faxe Bugt.
• Creates partnerships between companies, research environments, authorities and organizations.
• Has already secured support for national and international projects.
• Works, among other things, with port development, fisheries, bioeconomy, tourism, nature and circular value chains.

> If you’d like to find out what Møns Bank can do for you, then contact us or read more here .

Submitted by [email protected] on Tue, 09/22/2026 - 09:49 Back