26/10/2026
Countries in the Arab world are working with European countries to gain first-hand insight into everything that can be utilised in the fishing industry to enhance its value in the market and in the kitchen.
Photo courtesy of Grop Audiovisuals.
09/09/2015
20/12/2012
Small-scale fishing accounts for around 81 per cent of the Mediterranean fishing fleet, according to the FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), and provides employment for many coastal communities. However, some of the catch does not reach the market, or does so at a price well below its value.
Making use of these catches in industry, on the market and in the kitchen allows value to be added throughout the supply chain, eases the pressure on resources that remain in a fragile state, and opens up opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for women and young people.
In light of this situation, Roses, in Girona, is hosting a three-day Mediterranean gathering to highlight the value of what is currently discarded or undervalued in the fishing industry. This gathering is neither a scientific conference nor a gastronomic event, but rather a forum for cooperation in the service of fishing communities.
Organised by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) through Masar al’an, its regional cooperation programme with the Arab world, with technical coordination by Inspira Gastronomía, technical and logistical support from FIAP, and in collaboration with Roses Town Council and the Roses Fishermen’s Guild, the event welcomed more than 50 people from over 10 countries, with a particularly strong presence from the southern and eastern Mediterranean: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
Together with participants from Cyprus, Spain and Iceland, they were able to learn about the ‘quadruple helix’ approach used by Masar al’an: government, research, business and civil society working together to tackle a common challenge. In addition, the participants visited the Pescadors de Roses packaging plant and attended a cookery class on making full use of fish, led by the Fishology restaurant at the Roses Gastronomic Classroom – Espai Juli Soler.
The aim of the meeting is to produce a final document setting out the current state of play, the experiences and best practices identified, the needs of the value chain, and possible areas for joint work in the region. Furthermore, the idea is for the meeting to serve as a starting point for the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean network through which this work can be continued.
Masar al’an is the AECID’s regional cooperation programme with the Arab world, supported by FIAP. It promotes social, ecological and economic transition, with a focus on Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon, and one of its objectives is to foster a socially just blue economy. Through Masar Conecta, its knowledge and innovation initiative brings together public administrations, research bodies, businesses and civil society from both sides of the Mediterranean to tackle common challenges.
