The Polytechnic University of Valencia has organized, within the I+D+i in Marine Science programme, ThinkInAzul, the debate “Generational changeover in fishing: opportunities and challenges” which will be held on 17 May. The event is aimed at fishing professionals and associations and other bodies representing them. It will take place in the Higher Polytechnic College in Gandia and is open to the public.

The objective of the “Generational changeover in fishing: opportunities and challenges” debate is to discuss the need to promote and support the inclusion of young people in the fishing industry and to identify the challenges and opportunities facing fishing and aquaculture professionals in the current context of crisis these sectors are experiencing. The event forms part of the ThinkInAzul project, financed by both the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Valencian Government via NextGeneration funds within the EU Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience.

The event will take place on Friday 17 May in the Conference Hall of the Higher Polytechnic College of Gandia. It will begin at 9.30 a.m. with a short introduction by Lluís Miret Pastor and Paloma Herrera Racionero, ThinkInAzul researchers from the Autonomous Community of Valencia, before the invited guests speak.

The first guests to participate will be Silvia Solís Reyes, Deputy Director General of Economic Sustainability and Social Issues in the Secretary General for Fishing Department, and Francisco Juan Espinós, Director General for Fishing in the Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing Ministry of the Valencian Government. They will both talk about the current situation of the fishing sector in Spain and specifically the situation in the Autonomous Community of Valencia.

To focus on the problem of generational changeover, the next speaker Ignacio Valls Aguilar, regional director of ISM in Valencia, will analyze the labour situation of fishing professionals. Following a short coffee break, Salvador Colomar Gisbert, Deputy Director General of Planning and Organization in Vocational Training and Occupational Education will continue with this topic and explain what tools are available to help take up a career in the fishing industry.

Next up, José Basilio Otero, President of the National Federation of Fishing Guilds and María del Carmen Navas, President of the Regional Federation of Fishing Guilds in Malaga, will talk about the role of generational changeovers in planning within the fishing industry.

After lunch, participants at two round tables will offer real cases and experiences of what has been previously discussed. The first table, “Experiences of generational change in fishing” will involve: Marc Ros, a fisherman from Xàbia; Carmen, a fisherwoman from Gandia; Mbaye Ibrahima, fisherman and shipowner from Gandia; David Ferrer, net maker from Cullera; and Dumitru Maican, fisherman from Vinaros. The second round table, “Intergenerational continuity in fishing communities”, will include the participation of: Enrique Ferrer, administrative manager of the Fishing Guild of Gandia; Jaime Federico, secretary of the Fishing Guild of Vinaros; Joan Alginet Aliau, administrative manager of GALP Mar de l’Ebre; and Amparo Aleixandre, secretary of the Fishing Community of El Palmar.

The event will be completely open to the public and free. Advance registration is not necessary. We look forward to seeing you.