April 2025

CETMAR analyses the current situation of Honduran scientific research for fisheries in the Gulf of Fonseca in a participatory workshop organised by the International Cooperation area

• The training activity, along with another on the taxonomic identification of molluscs in this area of Honduras, is framed in the project funded by Cooperación Galega. It intends to improve the sustainability of the seafood activity of women’s groups in the south of the country

The International Cooperation area of CETMAR is organising a participatory workshop with the aim of analysing the current situation of Honduran scientific research for fisheries in the Gulf of Fonseca and a basic seminar for the taxonomic identification of molluscs in this area of Honduras, both online.

Both activities are carried out online as a technical assistance for the recovery and sustainability of fisheries resources in the Gulf of Fonseca (Honduras) and the development of skills for the administrations and institutions competent in fisheries, by implementing processes for the generation and management of knowledge.

Se trata de una acción del proyecto “Mejora de la sostenibilidad de la actividad marisquera para grupos de mujeres en el sur de Honduras, Fase 2” que, financiado por la Xunta de Galicia a través de Cooperación Galega, están desarrollando en aquel país Ingenieros sin fronteras Galicia, la Universidad de A Coruña y el Comité para la Defensa y el Desarrollo de la Flora y la Fauna del Golfo de Fonseca (CODDEFFAGOLF) con la colaboración de CETMAR

This is an action of the project ‘Improving the sustainability of seafood activity for women’s groups in southern Honduras, Phase 2’. It is funded by the Xunta de Galicia through Cooperación Galega and developed by Engineers without Borders Galicia, the University of A Coruña and the Committee for the Defence and Development of the Flora and Fauna of the Gulf of Fonseca (CODDEFFAGOLF) with the collaboration of CETMAR.

The first participatory workshop aims to analyse the weaknesses, threats, strengths, and opportunities of fisheries research in Honduras, by stressing the importance of making the sustainable exploitation of resources compatible with respect for the marine environment, including the conservation of biodiversity.  All of that, in the framework of the FAO’s code of conduct for responsible fishing.

It will be moderated by the manager (Guadalupe Martín) and the technical officer (Mercedes Martínez) of the International Cooperation area of CETMAR, and will be held on Tuesday 1 April via Teams from 17:00 to 20:00 (from 09:00 to 12:00 in Honduras).

The second workshop, a basic seminar for the taxonomic identification of molluscs from the Gulf of Fonseca, will take place on Thursday 3 April at the same time. Mr. Jesús Souza, Professor of Zoology and Professor of Marine Zoology at the University of Vigo, will train participants in the tools and mechanisms used for species identification.

The A Aixola training centre is organising a new edition of the Course on manufacture and maintenance of gear and equipment, the only one of its kind in Galicia

• The training, which leads to a level 2 professional certificate, has a high rate of employability, given its high demand
• The classes will take place at the centre in the port of Marín from April to July for 390 hours

The A Aixola Training Centre, dependent on the Regional Department for the Sea and managed by CETMAR, is organising a new edition of the course ‘Manufacture and maintenance of gear and equipment.’ This is a free and unique training in Galicia leading to a level 2 professional certificate, with a high rate of employability.

It will be a 390-hour course to take place from 7th April to 11th July in the morning and includes work experience in companies. To obtain a place on this course, having a secondary school diploma or equivalent is enough.

Students will acquire the skills to design, make, repair, and maintain fishing nets and traditional or mechanised equipment, adapting to the different methods. Successful completion leads directly to the professional certificate required for registration in the maritime system.

The course is particularly suitable for young people, unemployed or linked to fisheries, who wish to redirect their profession or ensure generational change in an extremely specialised profession. It is a job in danger of disappearance, but in demand for the associations and companies in the maritime-fishing sector. The data collected in previous editions show a high level of employment among the students, given the shortage of qualified professionals.

Places are limited and pre-registration is already available on the website (aixola.cetmar.org) or by mail aixola@cetmar.org or by phone 886 206915. A Aixola is currently the only accredited centre that offers this training.

CETMAR presents to mussel producers the research results and the new tools to support the planning of campaigns for the collection of mussel seed

• CETMAR organized in O Grove the first transfer workshop planned in the Capacitamex project and which targeted the members of the association Amegrove
• This is the first workshop planned to bring science closer to producers where experts from CIMA, the University of Vigo and IIM-CSIC participated

The headquarters of Amegrove, the cooperative of mussel producers, was yesterday the location of the first workshop scheduled by CETMAR in Capacitamex. This project aims to transfer to the productive sector the research results and tools developed to support mussel harvesting campaigns.

Funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)) and the Regional Department for the Sea, Capacitamex is building bridges between science and the productive sector and generating dialogue between researchers and producers, while making accessible the advances to know the state of the marine environment and predict its behaviour and effect on mussel farming.

During this first day, attendees learnt the results of Apromex, a project also funded by EMFAF and developed by the Centre for Marine Research (CIMA) with technical support from CETMAR. It addressed the analysis of juvenile mussel populations in the rocky intertidal, the evaluation of new systems for mussel seed uptake and the development of seed production systems in hatcheries.

Experts from CIMA, the Centre for Research in Nanomaterials and Biomedicine of the University of Vigo (CINBIO), the Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) and the Marine Technologies Unit of CETMAR were in charge to transfer to the producers the research results and the tools generated as a result of these studies.

For instance, the web viewers allowing access to data collected in the pre-campaign sampling on the state of the mussel seed population in the Galician coast, and the quantification of mussel larvae in the estuaries performed weekly. They are now available to the sector thanks to the new tools. In addition, the researchers reported the results of the latest scientific studies that connect upwelling and prevailing winds in the estuaries with the availability of mussel seed.

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The session concluded with a presentation by CETMAR on the application to declare mussel harvesting, both in natural banks and in collecting ropes, and that makes it possible through a mobile terminal.

This was the first of a series of workshops designed to provide a common vision of researchers, managers, and producers regarding the importance of knowledge about the mussel cycle and the analysis of the environmental factors that influence. It facilitates the adaptation to changes in the environment and supports the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of the mussel sector.

CIMA and CETMAR conclude the preliminary study on the presence of ouxa in the Galician coast and lay the foundations for a future Redemar project

• The Galician Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and the Fisheries Technical Unit (UTPB) also participated in the document
• The study aimed to find out the current state of the ouxa stocks in the Galician coast

The Marine Research Centre (CIMA) concluded the preliminary study on the presence of ouxa in the Galician coast, in which CETMAR collaborated and that sets the roadmap to follow for the implementation of a future Redemar project.

The Director General of Fisheries Development, Marta Villaverde, along with the director of CETMAR, Rosa Chapela, attended the presentation of this initiative. According to the director of CIMA, Carlos Gabin, the work was developed for seven months, in collaboration with the Galician Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, the Technical Unit of Inshore Fisheries (UTPB) and CETMAR, and the contributions of the fishermen’s guilds.

This preliminary study integrated the research knowledge of the Administration’s technicians with experience in fisheries and shellfish. The objective was to know the view of the sector about this species, and specially to enable the planning of activities that allow us to know the behaviour, abundance and, in the near future, to have tools to assess and quantify the impact on shellfish stocks.

A key stage of the study was the sending of 60 surveys from 10 ports, completed with several interviews with stakeholders. This ended last February with a workshop in Arcade.

The objective was to study the behaviour of this species in depth and obtain sufficient information to adopt management and coexistence measures for the sector’s activity and the natural populations of this species.

To achieve the objectives involves monitoring the shoals of ouxas through an observation network to obtain information on mobility patterns, recording and quantification of sightings, time and environmental conditions favouring their presence, reproduction periods and the basis of their feeding at different stages of growth.

This information will be necessary to objectively analyse the measures that can help mitigate their effect on shellfish and tackle a study to quantify the loss linked to incidence of ouxas on shellfish production.

Further knowledge

During the meeting, it was announced the joining of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (CSIC-IEO) and more fishermen’s guilds to this working group. These associations will be a major value when carrying out the experiences framed within a future Redemar project to be probably launched in the first half of 2025.

The advances will be transferred to the fishing and shellfish sectors, through meetings, workshops and documents so as to find a sustainable coexistence of this fish with the people of the sea.