The day ‘The participatory local development strategies that promote the Blue Economy‘ was inaugurated by Alfonso Villares, the Sea Councilor of the Xunta de Galicia, who placed the GALPs as determining elements when it comes to promoting the development of the blue economy
The Minister of the Sea, Alfonso Villares, highlighted the importance of Local Action Groups (GALP) as elements to promote a blue economy in coastal areas within the framework of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (Fempa). The regional manager, accompanied by the general director of Fisheries Development, valued the functionality of these entities in order to help promote innovative projects in the search for balance between the capital and resources of an area and the collective interests they represent, in order to establish coordinated decisions regarding the use of marine resources.
For this reason, the Ministry headed by Villares organized the conference on participatory local development strategies that promote the Blue Economy. According to the head of Mar, it is a forum in which to share the work being carried out in this regard and which allowed it to materialize in projects closely linked to the territory. A space, in short, to learn about transformative projects that promote sustainability and local development, and that gives visibility and identifies new opportunities in the different sectors that allow combining sustainability maritime-fishing and economic growth.
This meeting is part of the Galician Blue Economy Strategy approved by the Xunta as an essential element for its planning, given the geographical conditions and the historical, economic and sociocultural importance of the Galician coast. A document that reflects the importance of sectors such as fishing, processing, the port system or coastal tourism as fundamental drivers of economic growth. And it shows how the community is very well placed to lead innovative areas, which can diversify your economy and generate new employment opportunities.
In this way, the EAG will promote new economic and collaborative opportunities while helping to protect marine ecosystems, guaranteeing resources for future generations, with three main objectives: integrating the activities that make it up through innovation connectors, locating emerging sectors as international references and ensure the sustainability and circularity of fishingshellfish harvesting and aquaculture, as core activities.
The eight Galps encompass more than 400 local organizations representing the economic, social and public sectors. Of these, about a hundred belong to the fishing sector, representing more than 13,000 maritime professionals. Precisely, and given its connection with the territory, in the 2025 Budgets the Department makes a clear commitment to its promotion and contemplates an allocation of more than 20 million euros for the development of these entities.
Blue economy day
The forum included a round table on the role of Local Action Groups as drivers of the blue economy, with the participation of the managers of the Mariña-Ortegal, Golfo Ártabro-Norte, Costa da Morte and Costa Sostenible FLAGs. Different inspiring projects were also presented. This was the case of Recycled concrete furniture produced with mussel shells, from the South Ártabro Gulf; Binnacle. Measures to enhance the value of fishing heritage and strengthening of identity from the Ría de Arousa, from the Group of this area of Pontevedra; and Equipment for the conditioning of shellfish beds and improvement of biodiversity, from the GALP Ría de Pontevedra.
The representative of the Xunta considers that these entities are key and that they should help promote innovative projects in search of a balance between the use of marine resources in each area and capital and highlighted the approval of the Blue Economy Strategy from Galicia.