THE BLUEFISHING TRAINING PROJECT HOLDS ITS CLOSING EVENT TO ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF EXTRACTIVE FISHING IN THE ATLANTIC REGION

The Sessions Building of the Port Authority of Vigo hosted a session this morning on "SDGs in the Professionalization of the Blue Economy," as part of the BlueFishing Training project, aimed at professionalizing the value chain of inshore and offshore fishing in the Atlantic region.

This is one of the five projects related to blue growth in the fishing and aquaculture sector that has been executed under the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU - through the General Secretariat of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, with a total value of €266,571.78.

The session brought together experts and leaders in the field of the blue economy to discuss how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can play a fundamental role in promoting sustainable practices in the fishing industry. Distinguished speakers presented practical cases related to the SDGs, such as quality education, gender equality, industry, innovation and infrastructure, life below water, and partnerships to achieve goals.

In this context, attendees had the opportunity to learn about initiatives and projects contributing to the sustainable development of the blue economy in the Atlantic region. Furthermore, they engaged in enriching discussions and established contacts with experts in the field.

The closing of this session featured the President of the Port Authority of Vigo, Carlos Botana, who was joined virtually by Nieves Salgado from the Subdirectorate General for Economic Sustainability and Social Affairs of the General Secretariat of Fisheries, as well as Javier Touza, the head of ARVI, and Daniel Rey, the director of Campus do Mar. They celebrated the achievements of the project in providing a platform for sharing experiences and lessons learned. "BlueFishing Training leaves a legacy of progress and sustainability in inshore and offshore fishing in the Atlantic region," emphasized the port authority's leader.

Notable Results

From its inception, BlueFishing Training has achieved significant results in professionalizing the inshore and offshore fishing sector in the Atlantic region. The project has contributed to strengthening skills and lifelong learning in the extractive fishing sector by analyzing the gap between training and the labor market, identifying training deficiencies for current positions, and anticipating future qualification needs for related occupations through the preparation of a diagnostic report.

After drawing conclusions from the diagnosis, an Advisory Committee of sectoral experts was formed, and a total of 3 roundtable discussions were held, each led by one of the partner representatives from the three key subsectors (artisanal fishing, offshore fishing, and marketing and logistics). These discussions served as the basis for the development of work and the design of 13 specialized courses. These 13 training pathways have had a significant impact, providing training to 238 individuals, of which 150 are professionals in the fishing sector.

These training pathways have been consolidated into the Sectorial Cooperation Plan for Skills in the Fishing Sector, one of the main outcomes of this project, acting as a facilitation element for strategic approaches that promote cooperation among all stakeholders involved in designing appropriate training solutions for professional development in the fishing sector.

BlueFishing Training has encompassed both virtual and in-person modalities, combining theoretical and practical sessions to offer comprehensive and tailored training aligned with the sector's demands. Innovation has been a cornerstone of the project, incorporating workshops and visits to experimental sites to enrich the learning experience of participants.

BlueFishing Training has become a benchmark in promoting sustainability and enhancing professionalization in the value chain of inshore and offshore fishing in the Atlantic region.

The project's results will be presented tomorrow in Madrid at the knowledge-sharing events organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.