Mar 21, 2023, 5:00:00 PM
The Port of Vigo, the Cooperative of Shipowners (ARVI), the Oceanic
Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), the University of Vigo, and the
Institute for Sustainable Business Growth (ICSEM) joined forces this morning to
hold a seminar on the training needs in the fishing sector.
The seminar, framed within the BlueFishing Training project, featured
the participation of the President of the Port Authority of Vigo, Jesús Vázquez
Almuiña, the Director-General of Fishery Development, Susana Rodríguez, the
President of the Cooperative of Shipowners, Javier Touza, the Director of
Campus do Mar and Marine Research Center, Daniel Rey, and the Director of
ICSEM, Yolanda Molares, among others.
During the meeting, the five entities from Vigo and the Canary Islands
forming the group, along with the project's technical team, presented the
results of the diagnostic analysis of the state of training and the labor
market in the fishing subsectors (coastal fishing, deep-sea fishing, and
marketing and port logistics) to representatives of the sector. They also
introduced the Advisory Committee of the project.
This diagnosis, based on surveys and interviews conducted with a sample
of representatives from the three subsectors under study, has identified
training needs and deficiencies, with the aim of designing a plan for training
pathways and three pilot training programs to enhance the capacities and
lifelong learning of the fishing sector.
In this context, the study clearly highlights the difficulty in finding
courses adapted to the sector's needs, as well as the limited training
offerings provided by companies to their employees. Therefore, it emphasizes
the importance of providing more affordable training to address the sector's
digitalization and diversification towards marine tourism.
What is BlueFishing Training?
BlueFishing Training is a project aimed at promoting innovative
approaches to strengthen cooperation between the extractive fishing industry
and the scientific community, enhancing the transfer of experiences and
knowledge in terms of training, research, and innovation to reinforce the
sector's competitiveness in sustainable fishing.
With this project, funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, through
the General Secretariat of Fisheries as the fund manager, it is expected to
promote the competitiveness of the target sectors by providing companies with
access to skilled professionals with market-demanded skills.
Likewise, training centers will be able to obtain direct information
from the sector and reformulate or propose new training strategies, either in
the short term by implementing the designed training pathways or collectively
with authorities and sector support to promote the update of regulated training
programs.
At the forefront of innovation and marine environmental care
As highlighted by Vázquez Almuiña, this project aims to "highlight
the good health enjoyed by the Galician fishing sector and position it at the
forefront of innovation and marine environmental care."
He emphasized that the sector "has faced significant challenges
worldwide" and therefore "it is important to collaborate in providing
continuous training in digital transformation and environmental changes to all
seafarers, to stay abreast of new trends and develop strategies to face
emerging challenges."
In this regard, he recalled that the institution he presides over
strongly promotes education and individuals through its European strategy for
sustainable blue economy, with projects such as MarENet, co-financed by the
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of the European Commission and
recognized with the Atlantic Project Award 2020 in the category of marine
training and ocean literacy, as well as the promotion of improving professional
competencies in the maritime fishing field, funded by the Biodiversity
Foundation and in collaboration with the General Directorate of Fishery
Development (Xunta de Galicia).
Related projects
• It aims to recognize the work and experience of the workforce and support their entrepreneurial spirit in prototyping specific solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges. • The "APVIGO INTRAEMPRENDE" Program consists of four phases: training; entrepreneurial idea contest; entrepreneurship pre-incubator for the ideation and prototyping of the business idea; and prototype testing at the Port of Vigo. • The idea contest will be launched in the coming days, and interested parties will have a maximum of 30 days to submit their applications. The pre-incubator will last for 6 months from the selection and publication of the winners.
• The President of the Port Authority of Vigo, Carlos Botana, and the Rector of the University of Vigo, Manuel Joaquín Reigosa, have signed a collaboration agreement laying the groundwork for the joint realization of the 3rd edition of the Scientists Meet Artists program. • The agreement between both entities aims to make this initiative more appealing to the people of Vigo, increasing its impact and visibility while enhancing interaction between the port and the city. • The building of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo has become the canvas on which artist Delio Rodríguez has created a mural of urban art focusing on ocean observation. The goal is to visualize and disseminate aspects related to the marine world.
• Carlos Botana presents a series of initiatives to the Advisory Council and the Regional Ministry of the Sea, which will be previously agreed upon with the sector. • A commitment to initiate a process of reinvention and modernization to become a worldwide reference. • El Berbés users join forces to seek solutions and express their full willingness to collaborate in revitalizing fishing activity. • The Regional Ministry of the Sea approves the new plan, recognizing the importance of fishing for Galicia and Vigo.