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
• A total of 528 students from six schools in Vigo and the surrounding metropolitan area took part in nautical, environmental, and cultural activities organized in the Vigo Bay. • The educational program included workshops, sailing experiences, and visits to historic ships, all carried out over two intense mornings of active participation. • This marks the fifth edition of Festival Azul, promoted by the Rías Baixas Nautical Cluster Association, which continues to establish itself as a key cultural, sporting, and educational event in Galicia.
• The new edition of Festival Azul will take place from May 22 to 25 in the Vigo Bay, featuring a full program of sports, tourism, culture, and educational activities. • The event was officially presented today at a press conference with representatives from the Xunta de Galicia, the Pontevedra Provincial Council, the Port Authority of Vigo, and the Rías Baixas Nautical Cluster Association. • Registration for activities is now open on the website and social media channels of the Rías Baixas Nautical Cluster.