The Departament d’Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural has approved a grant of €2.1 million to boost and promote the Blue Economy of fishing municipalities in Catalonia. Thus, the Govern has given the go-ahead to the implementation of 137 local cooperation projects that will generate a total investment of €3.4 million.
This year, the amount granted is double the previous year’s budget and will allow 77 more projects to go ahead with respect to 2023. In addition, the increase in projects has allowed action throughout the Catalan coast with the following territorial distribution according to local fisheries action groups (GALP, of the acronyms in Catalan): 42 projects in the Ebro Sea, 20 projects in the Costa Daurada, 21 projects in the Central Coast, 24 projects in the Costa Brava (South and Maresme), and 30 projects on the Costa Brava.
Among the approved initiatives, the cooperation between French and Catalan fishers through experience exchange days, which will improve the commercialization of bluefin tuna, stands out. In addition, other proposals include the participation of women and the inclusion of local products in hospital diets.
According to the Department, the 137 projects meet the required territorial, sectoral, social and environmental criteria. In addition, it has been taken into account that the activities contribute to the strategic objectives of the European Maritime Fund and Fisheries and Aquaculture.
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