The TELO NA MAN project will generate employment opportunities in the field of sustainable use of marine resources in Galicia and Almeria.

Between waves there are opportunities for job creation. And more in Galicia and Almeria (Andalusia), where the fishing and aquaculture sector currently employs more than 17,900 people. In addition to traditional extractive activities, the sea offers a multitude of opportunities for inclusive and environmentally responsible economic dynamization in these Autonomous Communities. This is the starting proposal of “TELO NA MAN: The ocean is in your hands”, a project co-financed with 99,680 euros by the Biodiversity Foundation through the European Social Fund and which will be developed between Galicia and Andalusia during the next year.

MedAtlantia, a cooperative dedicated to European consultancy and based in A Coruña, will be in charge of coordinating the project, whose objective is to help the creation of business initiatives within the framework of the Blue Economy arising from social groups at risk of exclusion. To do so, the program is structured in a series of workshops guided by professionals from the sector and social and labor insertion through which opportunities based on the use of marine resources will be identified and business ideas will be defined.

The project will last 12 months during which 24 Blue Economy initiatives in Almeria and Galicia will be promoted through support sessions. TELO NA MAN is aimed both at people with an interest in entrepreneurship and professionals in the field of social and labor insertion who are interested in the challenges and opportunities offered by the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network in Galicia and Almeria. The program’s priority groups are women, people with disabilities, young people up to 35 years of age, people over 45 years of age, immigrants and residents of protected areas and/or rural areas.

This project is part of the Emplea Verde 2018 program, promoted by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and has the collaboration of the A Toda Vela Association of Almeria. All TELO NA MAN actions are free of charge and co-financed by the ESF for the promotion of training and quality employment.

After its launch on the 30th at the business incubator located in A Coruña’s Bulevar del Papagayo, TELO NA MAN is now in full implementation and until February 8 is open the selection phase of participants for the entire program (Register here). A little earlier closes the deadline to register for the first of the workshops, to identify innovative business opportunities around marine resources in Galicia, on February 4 (Register here). All information on the project and registration can be found on the company’s website http://medatlantia.eu/ or through its Twitter @MedAtlantia_UE and Facebook @medatlantia accounts.