May 2025

The Xunta improves mussel management from rock analysis to hatchery production

• CETMAR provides the industry with a web platform that offers information on the mussel larval cycle
• The Regional Minister of the Sea participates in the initiative, included in its strategy to ensure the sustainability and development of the resource
• Myticulture is one of the main aquaculture activities in Galicia, going beyond the cultivation in rafts, and being a determining factor in the socio-economic development of Galicia

The Regional Minister of the Sea, Mr. Alfonso Villares, participated in the presentation of the mussel larval density web viewer, developed by CETMAR in the framework of the APROMEX project. It is a web platform, co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFF), which allows to visualize the data of mollusc larval analysis, especially mussel larvae, updated weekly by interactive panels.

This initiative provides easier access to the data collected since 2023, when a study was launched to identify and selectively mark the larvae of this species using monoclonal antibodies. It was developed by CINBIO Research Centre (University of Vigo), Marine Research Centre (CIMA) and Instituto Tecnolóxico do Control Mariño de Galicia (Intecmar).

Mr. Villares was accompanied by the Director General of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Technological Innovation, Patricia García, and by the Managing Director of CETMAR, Rosa Chapela. The tool presented improves the accessibility and consultation of data; facilitates its interpretation, offering information of interest like the position of sampling stations; and allows to know its temporal evolution for 2023, 2024 and 2025. It also includes a diagram of the mussel larval cycle, as well as comments on the evolution recently observed at each station.

These details and the functioning of the instrument are presented to the industry in the framework of the Capacitamex project developed by CETMAR, together with other advances and research work of interest like APROMEX. This offers data ranging from the assessment of the attachment of brood to rocks to the implementation of new systems for the evaluation of uptake in the natural environment and complementary production in hatcheries.

To make progress on this project and to promote various initiatives guaranteeing the sustainability and development of this resource, the Regional Ministry of the Sea plans to invest more than €1.2 million by 2026. However, this action is a continuation of previous work.

Myticulture in Galicia

Mussel farming, one of the main aquaculture activities in Galicia, plays a crucial role in the economy and society. Its development goes beyond the cultivation in rafts (3,573 in Galicia), since the mussel fattening cycle depends on the collection of wild seed (mejilla), obtained mainly from coastal rocks and collecting ropes. According to Mr. Villares, these activities are essential for the development of the industry.

The high natural variability of this resource and its socio-economic importance for Galicia support the demand of an in-depth study of the dynamics, possibilities of exploitation, ecological impact, and search for alternatives to supply the industry and make it more resilient.

To ensure sustainability and continued development, it is essential to address the challenges. In this context, the Consellería do Mar, through CIMA and the technical support of CETMAR, launched the APROMEX project, co-financed with European funds. These challenges are addressed through three areas: analysis of mussel populations in the rocky intertidal and their exploitation, evaluation of new seed collection systems and development of seed production systems under controlled hatchery conditions.

CETMAR collaborates with the European Regional Coordination Groups to design innovative tools improving the management of fisheries data in the EU

• The development of the new technological services is performed in the Secweb 2.0 project, financed by the European Maritime Fund for Fisheries and Aquaculture
• The Centro Tecnológico del Mar is responsible for the secretariat to provide administrative support from 2023 onwards

CETMAR and the European Regional Coordination Groups (RCGs) are working together on the design and development of innovative tools and services to improve the functioning of the groups, which are responsible for the data collection and management of fisheries in the European Union.

As head of the secretariat supporting the RCGs, and within the Secweb 2.0 project, financed by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), the Galician institution dependent on the Consellería do Mar, is leading the process. It was initiated with a survey to the experts who make up the groups to find out their demands for improvement.

Considering the results of this consultation, it was agreed to develop a series of tools and content, like a platform to manage recommendations and decisions, an event registration system, and an electronic calendar and library, as well as to improve and update the RCG website and the stakeholder database.

The design and implementation of these actions was discussed at the first co-design meeting, which brought together 17 representatives of the six groups and subgroups and the national focal points. It was addressed the content of the platform for the management of recommendations and decisions, to allow their follow up beyond the annual meeting of the RCGs.

CETMAR will discuss with the groups in future meetings the content of other tools such as the calendar or the new system for events registration, or the virtual library, commonly agreeing on the information to be shared, the way to display it or the access system.

It is a cooperative, continuous and open design process, led by Cetmar, who will present the progress until the final development of the new tools. They are intended to make the day-to-day work easier for the Regional Coordination Groups.

Since 2023, the Promotion and Technology Transfer area of CETMAR has been assisting the RCGs and supporting in the organisation and communication procedures of the groups, by new mechanisms and proposals to consolidate a structure for a secretariat to support them in the long term.

Parallelly, Cetmar develops the SECWEB 2.0 project to improve the capacity of the RCGs and strengthen the regional coordination of this network of more than 400 experts for the collection, management, and exchange of fisheries data.

The Regional Coordination Groups – North Atlantic, North Sea and Eastern Arctic (NANSEA RCG); Baltic (Baltic RCG); Large Pelagics (LP RCG); Long Distance Fisheries (LDF RCG); Mediterranean and Black Sea (Med&BS RCG) and Economic Affairs (ECON RCG) – are the main collectors of fisheries data for the European Union to improve and ensure the sustainable management of marine resources.

The analysis of this information is the basis for stock assessments, which help to write scientific reports as a basis to define the fishing opportunities of each species.

Galicia advocates considering fisheries and aquaculture central pillars of the European Oceans Pact

• During an event at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, the managing director of CETMAR, Rosa Chapela Pérez, claims that these sectors are essential allies to ensure the balance and sustainability of the seas.

Galicia reaffirmed today its full support for the European Oceans Pact as a fundamental platform to unify its governance and align environmental protection with sustainable use, and called for the full integration of fisheries and aquaculture as central pillars of the agreement

During an event at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, Rosa Chapela Pérez, managing director of CETMAR, argued that sustainable fisheries and aquaculture ‘do not represent a threat to the health of our oceans.’ On the contrary, she said, ‘they are essential allies to keep the balance.’

The head of CETMAR spoke on behalf of the Consellería do Mar at a high-level conference organised by the European Office for Conservation and Development in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee. It intended to explore how the next European Oceans Pact will contribute to their global sustainability. This happens in the run-up to the third United Nations Conference on the Oceans (UNOC-3), to take place in Nice in June.

In this context, Rosa Chapela remarked the importance of the pact recognising and supporting artisanal and small-scale fisheries, sustainable shellfishing and aquaculture as ‘key’ factors. They contribute to coastal resilience, food security and cultural heritage. Moreover, recognising their role in the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14), climate resilience and food sovereignty.

The managing director of CETMAR reviewed Galicia’s contributions to the European Oceans Pact, summarised in four basic pillars: ‘strong governance and integrated maritime spatial planning; people-centred ocean governance; sustainable and inclusive blue food systems; and investment in science, innovation and capacity building.’

She recalled that Galicia is working closely with the Spanish government on maritime spatial planning to ensure a fair balance for all uses of the ocean. It is an integrated vision that ‘minimises conflicts and maximises synergies,’ while defending the sea as a cultural, social, and economic pillar. “We advocate a Pact that places coastal communities at the centre, ensuring decent work, generational renewal and recognition of the role of women in the blue economy.

The managing director of CETMAR also referred to the Local Fisheries Action Groups (FLAGs), members of a wider European network and which, ‘offer a proven model of bottom-up EU governance’ and ‘can help to implement this Pact on the ground.’

Aligning blue growth with climate action, ensuring equitable access to EU funding and policy approach for coastal regions like Galicia, and investing in science, innovation, and training to support the management and resilience of a changing ocean were other commitments Galicia suggested to include in the Oceans Pact.

The Xunta (Galician government) develops a web viewer of larval density of bivalves in the Galician coast in collaboration with CETMAR, within the Apromex project

• This tool improves the access to data and the interpretation and consultation through interactive panels, as well as viewing the position of sampling stations and their temporal evolution
• In 2023 a study on the identification and selective marking of mussel larvae using monoclonal antibodies was carried out by the CINBIO research centre of the University of Vigo, CIMA and Intecmar
• The Consellería do Mar (Regional Ministry of the Sea) is investing more than 1.2 million euros to promote initiatives to guarantee the sustainability and development of this strategic aquaculture resource in 2024-2026.

The Conselleria do Mar reported to the Xunta on the development of a web viewer for the mussel larval density, a strategic marine resource for the aquaculture in the region. Within the Apromex project and co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFF) this action is developed by CETMAR, which depends on the Consellería. and has set up a web platform for data visualisation of the mollusc larval analysis, especially mussel larvae. Data are updated weekly, through interactive panels.

This tool improves the access to data and facilitates the interpretation and consultation by offering information of interest like the position of the sampling stations and allows to know their temporal evolution in 2023, 2024 and 2025. It also includes a diagram of the mussel larval cycle, and comments on the evolution recently observed at each station, just as other observations. These and other operation aspects of the tool, together with other advances and research of interest to the industry are presented to the mussel sector in the Capacitamex project workshops, organized by CETMAR.

This action is in line with previous work performed in the period 2009-2011 when, commissioned by the Consellería do Mar, CETMAR published weekly reports on the Intecmar website on the abundance of mussel larvae in the Galician estuaries to show temporal and spatial patterns. Also in 2023, a study was initiated to identify and selectively mark mussel larvae using monoclonal antibodies, carried out by the CINBIO research centre of the University of Vigo, the Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA) and Intecmar.

Further actions

In addition to the analysis of bivalve larval populations in the rocky intertidal and their exploitation on the coast, the Apromex project also addresses the evaluation of new seed collection systems in long line structures to supply mussels to the sector and contribute to the sustainability of mussel farming. This is an essential product for Galician aquaculture, that is why transferring results and other knowledge to the sector and stakeholders is another area of work.

The Consellería do Mar will invest more than 1.2 million euros in the period 2024-2026 to promote initiatives to guarantee the sustainability and development of this strategic aquaculture resource.