--- - |2 Abstract The incorporation of territorial development into the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has allowed for the decentralised and participatory management of part of its funds. In fact, the criteria for sustainable development in fishing zones follow the guidelines of Community‐Led Local Development (CLLD). This work critically examines the implementation process of Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) in two areas of the Iberian Peninsula's Atlantic coast as case studies, looking into the creation of Fishery Local Action Groups (FLAGs) and the analysis of the planning and execution phases of the funds. The results show, on the one hand, the limited development of this approach and the doubts about the effectiveness of area‐based partnerships as tools for local development, and on the other, the benefits for the revitalisation of the fishing sector, especially in the long term. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. - 'Sociologia Ruralis, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-. '