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The Basque Government presents the Euskadi Azul strategy to ensure generational relay in the maritime and fisheries sector

The main objectives are to attract young talent, boost innovation, modernize ports and create new economic opportunities associated with the sea.

 

 

ONDARROA (BIZKAIA), 13/07/2026.- El lehendakari, Imanol Pradales (c), y la consejera de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca, Amaia Barredo (2i) han presentado este lunes en Ondarroa (Bizkaia) de la estrategia 'Euskadi Urdina'. EFE/ Miguel Toña
President Imanol Pradales during the presentation of the initiative.

On Monday, the Basque Government presented Euskadi Azul, with the aim of ensuring generational relay in the maritime and fisheries sector and consolidating the blue economy as an engine of development, an initiative that brings together 40 activities aimed at attracting talent from young people, promoting innovation, modernising ports and creating new economic opportunities linked to the sea.

President Imanol Pradales, who has announced the project in Ondarroa, has stressed that the new strategy aims to integrate all the capabilities of the Basque Country linked to the sea into a joint vision.

Strategic sector

Pradales stressed that the plan advocates diversification, generational relay and talent in line with the Oceanic Treaty promoted by the European Union, which regards the blue economy as a strategic sector to ensure food sovereignty, decarbonisation and the protection of biodiversity.

One of the main axes of Euskadi Azul is to meet challenges such as the ageing of the fishing fleet and the non-attraction of young people to fishing activity, which are one of the greatest obstacles to ensuring the continuity of a sector of economic, social and cultural importance on the Basque coast.

Campaigns to stimulate vocations

To this end, the Basque Government proposes a comprehensive programme that includes campaigns to stimulate vocations among young people, the updating of the training offer and the creation of the Euskadi Blue Skills Hub, which will serve as a reference centre for the development of training and talent linked to the sea.

The strategy also envisages strengthening the Itsasoratu programme through longer support routes and mentoring programmes to facilitate the sectorization of new professionals.

In addition, mechanisms will be promoted to reduce barriers to access to the profession, including a brokering office for the transfer of fishing assets, a catalogue of vessels and licences available for generational relay, a quota bank and new financial instruments to facilitate the sectorization of young shipowners and crew.

Innovation, Ports and the Blue Economy

Beyond generational relay, Euskadi Azul envisages the creation of a network of spaces for innovation and blue entrepreneurship, the modernisation of port infrastructures with an investment of around EUR 27 million and the promotion of recreational nautical as a coastal dynamisation activity.

Overall, the strategy includes six lines of action, 17 areas of work and 40 initiatives with which the Basque Government seeks to consolidate a model of sustainable growth based on innovation, competitiveness and sea-related job creation.

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