The Minister of the Sea, Marta Villaverde, today in Santiago de Compostela defended the importance of creating the necessary conditions for new generations to see the maritime-fishing sector as a future opportunity and to develop a dignified, safe, and stable life project within it. She stated this during the inauguration of the closing event for the project Generational Succession: The Future of the Sea, held at the Cidade da Cultura de Galicia.
Villaverde pointed out that generational renewal is a demographic, economic, and cultural challenge linked to the sustainability of fishing and coastal communities. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive strategy involving public administrations, sector entities, and educational centers to facilitate the incorporation of new professionals.
The minister highlighted the role of training and direct contact with professional activity in bringing young people closer to the sea, through initiatives like those developed in this project, which included visits to fishing facilities, embarkation experiences, and meetings at training centers.
She thanked the involvement of the eight Local Action Groups of the Fishing Sector (GALP) of Galicia, especially the coordination efforts of GALP Ría de Arousa, as well as the collaboration of the GAL from the Basque Country, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between territories facing similar challenges.
The conclusions of this initiative will allow for firsthand knowledge of the experiences and needs conveyed by participants, information that the Ministry of the Sea will consider when designing policies to advance in an attractive, safe, and competitive sector, where women and men can develop their professional careers with equal opportunities.
The event also included the participation of the Director General of Fisheries Development, Ángeles Vázquez Suárez, and the Director General of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Technological Innovation, Isaac Rosón, who spoke at the round table on modernization and new technologies.
