Adapting regulations, promoting experiences, and their commercialization are some of the challenges that fishing tourism faces for its growth. This conclusion emerged from the International Fishing & Tourism Congress, which concluded in Sanxenxo after two days of exchange between professionals and entities from ten countries.
During yesterday's session, the debate focused on the role of Local Action Groups for the Fishing Sector (GALP) in promoting fishing tourism. The training of professionals, project mentoring, and financial support were highlighted. The need for collaboration with other administrations to adapt regulations and improve promotion and commercialization was also identified.
Cooperation between GALPs is emerging as a way forward through future joint projects, always in collaboration with the fishing sector and addressing its demands.
Today's session featured presentations of fishing tourism and maritime tourism experiences, both those promoted by Mar e Rías: Pesca & Turismo and other initiatives already operating in Spain and other countries. After learning about the proposals, participants voted for the winning initiatives in the congress's three categories.
“"In the governance category, the winning project was WEVA, presented by Walter Foley from Ireland. In the fishing tourism area, the recognition went to Pescaturismo Campelo Combarro, promoted by Yago Tomé, within the GALP Ría de Pontevedra territory, while in the maritime tourism category, Sente o Mar, presented by Silvia Cobas from Mugardos, within the GALP Golfo Ártabro Norte territory, was distinguished."
The event brought together participants from Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Estonia, and Cyprus. The regulation of these activities, European experiences, the role of fishing guilds and professional organizations, and inter-territorial cooperation were also discussed.
As a closing activity, participants visited two on-site experiences. In Sanxenxo, a group boarded the Playa de Sanxenxo for an interpretive route along the estuary with Sauro Martínez, promoter of Mariñeiro por un Día, learning about the coastal landscape, fishing gear, boats, and maritime heritage.
Another group traveled to Cambados for a day with the shellfish gatherers of Guimatur, learning about traditional shellfish gathering techniques, tools used in the trade, and local maritime heritage, as well as participating in the activity.
The congress is part of the Mar e Rías: Pesca & Turismo cooperation project, in which the eight GALPs of Galicia are jointly working to promote fishing tourism and maritime tourism. The project includes training actions, support for entrepreneurial initiatives, and knowledge exchange to foster new opportunities linked to fishing activities.
