This initiative is called Generational Renewal: The Future of the Sea.
Xunta de Galicia
The eight Local Fisheries Action Groups (GALPs) of Galicia, Spain, have presented the project Generational Renewal: The Future of the Sea, an initiative aimed at working towards the survival of the fishing sector.
The project has been coordinated by GALP Ría de Arousa and is co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), resulting in a total investment of €145,520.
During the presentation, the Director General of Fisheries Development, Ángeles V. Suárez, emphasized that "it is essential to open the doors of fish markets, companies, and boats to young people to show them that a real, dignified, and opportunity-filled professional future exists."
This is the first time that these eight groups have worked together on the development of informational and guidance activities in educational centers, visits and internships in companies and sector organizations, or awareness-raising activities such as marine camps and audiovisual materials.
In addition, experiences and knowledge will be exchanged with other regions, such as the Basque Country, participation in educational fairs like Edugal, and specific initiatives aimed at attracting students to professional studies related to the sea.
"It is not enough to tell young people that there are jobs at sea; we must show them that it is a modern, technologically advanced, sustainable profession with immense cultural pride," Suárez warned.
Already in 2024, EMFAF's Monitoring Committee addressed generational renewal and local development challenges to ensure the production, processing, and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products.
