Progress report for
A Maritime Strategy for the sustainable development of the blue economy in Catalonia
Achievement at a glance
The process of the implementation of the 2030 Maritime Strategy of Catalonia, adopted in 2018, is evolving as foreseen. A mid-term report with the achievements of the first strategic plan (2018-2021) will be published by the end of July 2020. Main achievements relevant to the Community Action 7 can be anticipated here as requested. Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology is at the heart of the Strategy which is committed to based actions on the best available science.One of the pillars of the Strategy was the structuration of a Scientific Network of Excellence in the maritime scope in Catalonia, trough the creation, in March 2020, of The Maritime R+D+I network of Catalonia (BlueNetCat), after an open call of proposals aiming at the creation of scientific networks in Catalonia for the valorization and transfer of research outcomes, to be awarded by EU funding. The objective of BlueNetCat is to transfer innovation to all economic sectors in the Blue Economy and support its sustainable development. This approach facilitates the definition of cross-cutting proposals aligned with the 2030 Maritime Strategy of Catalonia, EUs Blue Economy strategies, and the UN SDG 14 and others. A total of 64 research groups and over 400 scientists from seven renowned scientific institutions have already joined BlueNetCat. A case study on Funding and R&D in Catalunya in the Blue Economy has been recently published in the EU Blue Economy Report 2020*.
Another big achievement of the Strategy in relation to research and scientific transfers is the development and consolidation of the Catalan Research Institute for the Governance of the Sea (ICATMAR). ICATMAR has started its activity during 2019 with an ambitious sampling program aimed at providing scientific support for the monitoring of management plans for fisheries, and has carried out already the first ever socio-economic assessment of the recreational fisheries in Catalonia.
*https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/sites/maritimeaffairs/files/2020_06_blueeconomy-2020-ld_final.pdf
Beneficiaries
The Strategy through its four scopes of action is very comprehensive and aims to benefit society as a whole trough the sustainable development of the blue economy while preserving the ecosystem health and services.
Actions
Several actions related to the 89 Strategic Courses of Actions of the Strategy* are already being implemented. A mid-term report of the first strategic plan of the Strategy (2018-2021) with the details of the actions already implemented or being currently implemented is being carried out and is expected to be published in July 2020.*http://agricultura.gencat.cat/web/.content/08-pesca/politica-maritima/enllacos-documents/fitxers-binaris/ESTRATEGIA-MARITIMA-2030-Pla-2018-2021_EN.pdf