Comunicación CETMAR

CETMAR presents its Equality Plan to the staff

• The new CETMAR Equality Plan, presented on January 30, transforms the analysis of the internal reality into concrete measures to advance equal opportunities between men and women within the organization.

• View the 2025–2029 Equality Plan

The Marine Technology Centre (CETMAR) presented its new Equality Plan to its staff last Friday, January 30. This document defines the lines of action for the next four years, with the aim of continuing to advance effective equality between women and men in the workplace.

The plan is based on an internal diagnosis that provides an overview of the centre’s situation in terms of workforce composition, recruitment, training, work-life balance, and work organization. It represents a snapshot that serves as a technical starting point to identify areas for improvement and design measures adapted to the organization’s reality. On this basis, the Equality Plan focuses on proposing actions for continuous improvement to be implemented.

One of the key pillars is the incorporation of equality into recruitment processes, through the development of a best practices manual and a commitment to ensuring equality from the outset. Equality criteria will be integrated from the staff onboarding stage. At present, CETMAR’s workforce is clearly feminized, with 75% women. Of the 52 employees at the centre, 39 are women and 13 are men.

The plan also seeks to strengthen training, both in equality and in the prevention of harassment and respect for diversity, with actions aimed at the entire workforce and with special attention to positions of responsibility. The prevention of harassment and gender-based violence, as well as the promotion of occupational health, are the main objectives of these measures. In this regard, internal protocols are also updated and the equality perspective is integrated into the assessment of the work climate through a specific survey.

Work-life balance is another major milestone of the Equality Plan. Measures are introduced to increase working time flexibility, improve and extend leave entitlements, and provide a suitable space for pregnant employees and breastfeeding women. Awareness-raising actions are also planned to ensure that all staff are aware of and can make use of these rights under equal conditions.

Finally, the plan includes actions aimed at promoting inclusive communication and language, through the review of institutional documentation and awareness-raising initiatives that contribute to consolidating an organizational culture based on respect and equal opportunities.

The Marine Sciences Programme faces its final phase with a commitment to ensuring the continuity of scientific cooperation

• The final phase of the programme opens a process of reflection on how to keep alive the scientific network created around the sea in Galicia.

• The continuity of the programme, which is funded by the Consellería do Mar, includes, among other avenues, the creation of a Scientific Reflection Forum on Marine Sciences in Galicia.

The Marine Sciences Programme of Galicia, one of the most ambitious research and innovation initiatives related to the sea developed in the region in recent years, is entering its final phase with the aim of preserving and strengthening the network of scientific and technical cooperation generated during its implementation. To this end, the programme’s coordination team met this Tuesday at the Marine Technology Centre – Cetmar Foundation to reflect on its impact and on possible ways to ensure the continuity of the collective effort driven from Galicia.

Framed within the Complementary Plans of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, in the context of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (Next Generation EU), the Marine Sciences Programme of Galicia is part of the national Joint Marine Sciences Programme, involving collaboration between Galicia, Andalusia, Cantabria, the Region of Murcia, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community. The Consellería do Mar of Galicia financed CETMAR’s coordination responsibilities with €4,000,000.

Since 2022, the programme has helped to structure the Galician scientific and technical ecosystem linked to the sea through collaboration among universities, research centres, technological institutes and public administrations, as well as through continuous dialogue with the marine and coastal sector. The aim is to deploy a coordinated research and innovation strategy to address key challenges such as marine monitoring and observation, climate change, aquaculture and other areas of the blue economy. In total, 363 researchers and technical staff took part, belonging to 82 research groups from 13 institutions.

The results achieved are reflected in 184 scientific and technical solutions and advances, with direct or potential application in the sustainable management of the marine environment and resources. One of the most notable elements of the programme was its contribution to strengthening human capital. A total of 117 people were directly hired, incorporating new PhD holders who worked collaboratively and across institutions—an experience that is expected to continue in future dynamics of scientific cooperation in Galicia.

During the meeting held at Cetmar, those responsible for coordination agreed that an effort of this scale should not fade once the programme ends. The networking work carried out over these three years has contributed to a more efficient system, capable of responding to the country’s needs without giving up on fundamental research, whose results may materialise in the medium and long term.

In view of the current uncertainty regarding funding mechanisms that would allow both the work and the collaborative structure itself to be maintained, participants committed to meeting again in the short term to design, as a legacy of the programme, the creation of a Scientific Reflection Forum on Marine Sciences in Galicia. This forum is conceived as a consultative and coordinating space to facilitate systematic information exchange among specialists, joint action planning and the preparation of coordinated responses to strategic calls, with the aim of attracting resources to ensure continuity and strengthen links between the research community and other organisations with interests in the sea, promoting a sustainable relationship with the marine environment and its resources.

Galicia Promotes Its Blue Economy Strategy at the Blue Atlantic Forum in Baiona

Baiona will host the fourth edition of the Blue Atlantic Forum (BAF) from November 12 to 14, the leading blue economy event in the Atlantic Arc. The forum will bring together European experts, institutions and companies to discuss innovation, sustainability and the development of the sea as an economic driver. As a major highlight, the 1st Forum of the Galician Blue Economy Strategy will be held, promoted by the Regional Ministry of the Sea.

From November 12 to 14, 2025, Baiona will become the meeting point for the Atlantic blue economy with the celebration of the 4th edition of the Blue Atlantic Forum (BAF) at the Parador de Baiona. This event, now established as a European benchmark, will bring together institutions, companies, researchers and students committed to the sustainable development of marine and coastal resources.

As a key new feature, this year’s edition will host on its first day the 1st Forum of the Galician Blue Economy Strategy, promoted by the Regional Ministry of the Sea of the Government of Galicia and CETMAR. This new space aims to strengthen the governance of sea-related activities in the region by fostering cooperation between public policies, scientific research and the private sector. The forum includes an opening keynote by expert Ernesto Penas Lado on international ocean governance, two round tables dedicated to traditional and emerging blue economy sectors—with representatives from fisheries, aquaculture, biotechnology and ports—and a participatory session organized by CETMAR to promote the creation of the Galician Blue Economy Network.

The opening session will be attended by the Regional Minister of the Sea, the President of the Government of Galicia, the Mayor of Baiona and representatives of the Port of Vigo, and will focus on the progress and priorities of the Galician Blue Economy Strategy. Galicia, with its strong maritime tradition and marine-based productive fabric, presents itself as a reference territory and a living laboratory for blue development.

The Blue Atlantic Forum has become a key platform for interregional cooperation within the Atlantic Arc, addressing the challenges and opportunities of a sector ranging from fisheries and aquaculture to marine biotechnology, renewable energies, coastal tourism and maritime transport.

International recognition also supports this event: the previous edition was distinguished by the organization Green Destinations as one of the Top 100 Responsible Tourism Initiatives worldwide, for its contribution to sustainable tourism and the promotion of Atlantic values as a space of innovation and environmental respect.

BAF 2025 combines in-person and online formats, facilitating the participation of speakers and attendees from different countries and sectors.
More information and registration: www.blueatlanticforum.org

Galicia Promotes Its Blue Economy Strategy at the Blue Atlantic Forum in Baiona

Baiona hosted the fourth edition of the Blue Atlantic Forum (BAF) from November 12 to 14, the leading blue economy event in the Atlantic Arc. The forum brought together European experts, institutions and companies to discuss innovation, sustainability and the development of the sea as an economic driver. As a major highlight, the 1st Forum of the Galician Blue Economy Strategy was held, promoted by the Regional Ministry of the Sea.

From November 12 to 14, 2025, Baiona became the meeting point for the Atlantic blue economy with the celebration of the 4th edition of the Blue Atlantic Forum (BAF) at the Parador de Baiona. This event, now established as a European benchmark, brought together institutions, companies, researchers and students committed to the sustainable development of marine and coastal resources.

As a key new feature, this year’s edition included on its first day the 1st Forum of the Galician Blue Economy Strategy, promoted by the Regional Ministry of the Sea of the Government of Galicia and CETMAR. This new space aims to strengthen the governance of sea-related activities in the region by fostering cooperation between public policies, scientific research and the private sector. The forum featured an opening keynote by expert Ernesto Penas Lado on international ocean governance, two round tables focused on traditional and emerging blue economy sectors—with representatives from fisheries, aquaculture, biotechnology and ports—and a participatory workshop organized by CETMAR to promote the creation of the Galician Blue Economy Network.

The opening session was attended by the Regional Minister of the Sea, the President of the Government of Galicia, the Mayor of Baiona and representatives of the Port of Vigo, and focused on the progress and priorities of the Galician Blue Economy Strategy. Galicia, with its strong maritime tradition and marine-based productive fabric, presents itself as a reference territory and a living laboratory for blue development.

The Blue Atlantic Forum has become a key platform for interregional cooperation within the Atlantic Arc, addressing the challenges and opportunities of a sector that ranges from fisheries and aquaculture to marine biotechnology, renewable energies, coastal tourism and maritime transport.

International recognition also supports this event: the previous edition was distinguished by the organization Green Destinations as one of the Top 100 Responsible Tourism Initiatives worldwide, for its contribution to sustainable tourism and the promotion of Atlantic values as a space of innovation and environmental respect.

BAF 2025 combines in-person and online formats, facilitating the participation of speakers and attendees from different countries and sectors. More information and registration: www.blueatlanticforum.org

CETMAR promotes in Peru the improvement of seed production and the strengthening of technical capacities among aquaculture producers

The MAR Piura project is funded by Galician Cooperation and implemented by CETMAR in coordination with PRODUCE, FONDEPES and the Social Organizations of Fishers and Aquaculture Producers (OSPAS) of Sechura.
The first training course will take place from December 1 to 5 at the La Arena Aquaculture Center, in Casma, Peru.

The Marine Technology Center – CETMAR Foundation, within the framework of the Galician Cooperation policy of the Xunta de Galicia, is promoting the MAR Piura project in Peru, an international cooperation initiative aimed at increasing the sustainability of the value chain associated with fisheries and aquaculture in the Piura region. The program is implemented in coordination with the Peruvian Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) and the National Fisheries Development Fund (FONDEPES), with the aim of strengthening business initiatives located in Sechura Bay and reinforcing governance mechanisms to enhance their capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The project is structured around three main lines of action. The first focuses on improving the scallop production chain in Sechura Bay by strengthening the technical capacities of OSPAS for seed production and management in laboratories, enabling progress towards more efficient and climate-resilient farming systems.

The second line focuses on strengthening women-led marketing processes, supporting their professionalization in order to reduce their economic vulnerability. Finally, the third line of action is centered on institutional strengthening, promoting the training of technical staff from public entities linked to aquaculture and marine tourism, as well as fostering coordination spaces that enable the formulation of production models and experiential tourism initiatives consistent with environmental conservation and the economic diversification of the region.

First project action: technical training for OSPAS in Casma from December 1 to 5

As the first operational milestone of the intervention, an intensive training course will be held from December 1 to 5 for OSPAS technicians on protocols for maintenance, cleaning and optimization of the scallop production cycle during the hatchery and pre-grow-out phases. This action seeks to reduce dependence on natural seed collection, which is increasingly affected by climate change.

Representatives from the OSPAS AREMAR, Sec Yurac and Aquaseed will participate, along with students from the Ricardo Ramos Plata Institute of Sechura, selected for their strong interest in moving towards a more sustainable seed supply system.

Throughout the sessions, participants will delve into broodstock selection and conditioning, phytoplankton culture, and systematic water quality control. Protocols for cleaning, disinfection and health prevention will also be addressed, as well as techniques for handling and managing larvae and seed.

Another key aspect to be addressed is the standardization of the different stages of laboratory cultivation and the proper recording and analysis of production data, with the aim of ensuring more efficient and standardized processes.

Photo album update of the training

CETMAR promotes improved seed production and strengthened technical capacities of aquaculture producers in Peru

The Centro Tecnológico del Mar–Fundación CETMAR, within the framework of the Xunta de Galicia’s Galician Cooperation policy, is promoting in Peru the MAR Piura project, an international cooperation initiative aimed at increasing the sustainability of the value chain associated with fisheries and aquaculture activities in the Piura region. The programme is carried out in coordination with the Peruvian Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) and the National Fisheries Development Fund (FONDEPES), with the objective of strengthening business initiatives in the Bay of Sechura and reinforcing governance mechanisms to enhance their capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The project is structured around three main lines of work. The first focuses on improving the production chain of the Peruvian scallop (concha de abanico) in the Bay of Sechura by strengthening the technical capacities of the OSPAS for seed production and handling in laboratory settings, enabling progress towards more efficient and climate-resilient aquaculture systems.

The second line seeks to strengthen marketing processes led by women, supporting their professionalisation in order to reduce economic vulnerability. Finally, the third work line focuses on institutional strengthening, promoting the training of technical staff from public entities linked to aquaculture and marine tourism, as well as fostering coordination spaces that support the design of production models and experiential tourism initiatives aligned with environmental conservation and economic diversification in the region.

First action of the project: technical training for OSPAS in Casma from 1 to 5 December

As the first operational milestone of the initiative, an intensive training activity will be held from 1 to 5 December for OSPAS technicians, covering protocols for maintenance, cleaning and optimisation of the scallop production cycle during the hatchery and pre-fattening stages. This action aims to reduce dependence on natural spat collection, which is increasingly affected by climate change.

Representatives from the OSPAS AREMAR, Sec Yurac and Aquaseed will take part, as well as students from the Ricardo Ramos Plata Institute in Sechura, selected for their strong interest in advancing towards a more sustainable seed supply system.

Throughout the sessions, participants will deepen their knowledge of broodstock selection and conditioning, phytoplankton cultivation and systematic water quality control. They will also work on cleaning, disinfection and sanitary prevention protocols, as well as larval and seed handling techniques.

Another important aspect will be the protocolisation of the different stages of laboratory cultivation and the proper recording and analysis of production data, with the aim of ensuring more efficient and standardised processes.

A Aixola Launches a New Training Cycle with Sixty Enrolled Participants and International Projects

• The A Aixola Training Centre offers free training in the areas of shipbuilding, fishing gear and equipment, sailmaking, and mechanics.

The A Aixola Training Centre, managed by CETMAR and dependent on the Consellería do Mar, has started a new cycle of courses that will run until December, with around sixty participants enrolled across four training areas. All courses are free of charge, as they are co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), and take place in facilities provided by the Port Authority of Marín and the Ría de Pontevedra.

One of the main novelties this term is the participation of students in the FAO’s FISH4ACP programme, an international cooperation project led by CETMAR aimed at improving the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Students from the Manual Polyester Lamination and Small Boat Restoration courses will take part, working on the construction of fibre and marine plywood models.

The results of this training will later be applied in São Tomé and Príncipe, where CETMAR experts will deliver workshops with local carpenters and professionals, culminating in the construction of two vessels. They will also provide short training sessions on fishing gear repair, nets, and engines, aimed at strengthening the skills of fishers and women traders.

Among the most notable courses is the one leading to the Professional Certificate in Manufacture and Maintenance of Fishing Gear and Equipment, with A Aixola being the only centre in Galicia permanently accredited to deliver it. This qualification responds to the demand of net-makers’ associations, who see this training as a key tool to ensure generational renewal in the sector.

Wooden boatbuilding remains a fundamental pillar at A Aixola. The centre keeps alive the tradition of carpintería de ribera (traditional Galician wooden boatbuilding), declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage Asset in 2017. A Aixola combines traditional techniques with innovation, preserving boats and materials while promoting new approaches to shipbuilding.

The training offer is completed with courses in Basic Marine Mechanics for Small Vessels, which has received strong demand, and Sailmaking and Rigging, highly valued by both professional technicians and sailing enthusiasts.