The director of the Biodiversity Foundation, a public foundation of the Government of Spain, under the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, Ana Leiva, inaugurated today in Vigo the “RECOPA Seminar: Network of communities for sustainable development. Awareness for biodiversity”, organized by the Technological Center of the Sea – CETMAR Foundation together with the Lonxanet Foundation and financed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of the Xunta de Galicia.

The director of the Biodiversity Foundation, Ana Leiva, has announced the objectives pursued by this institution in terms of sustainable fishing. For his part, the coordinator of Studies and Projects of the Biodiversity Foundation, Ignacio Torres, has presented the specific actions carried out by the Biodiversity Foundation in favour of the conservation, sustainable development and recovery of marine biodiversity both in Spain and in Latin American countries.

RECOPADES is a network made up of diverse fishing communities that share the objective of ensuring the biodiversity of resources, managing them sustainably and raising awareness of their preservation. Through the seminar that is held from September 29 to October 3, it is intended to initiate a joint process to favor and promote this network, since this meeting aims to be a means of communication and learning among all participants. In addition, this meeting will allow five fishing communities belonging to four South American countries to learn about and understand the origin and development of a Marine Reserve of Fishing Interest.

The Biodiversity Foundation has collaborated with the Technological Centre of the Sea – CETMAR Foundation through agreements financed by the European Social Fund during 2006 and 2007. Thus, in 2005 he carried out a project whose objective was to achieve training and awareness of the Galician riverside carpentry sector about the factors that determine the crisis of the trade; of the need for technological renewal and the diversification of products and spaces of action, as well as the introduction of the environmental and gender equality approach in the entire production process; and to ensure the survival of the SMEs that make up this sector.

On the other hand, in 2007, the Marine Technology Centre – CETMAR Foundation developed a project that consisted of an environmental observatory on the impact on the marine environment of solid waste generated by aquaculture, fishing and port activities. Likewise, through this initiative it was proposed to inform and advise on new techniques for the use of wood and resins in maritime construction. Innovation and minimization of the environmental impact in its use.