PROYECTOS INNOVADORES EN EL SECTOR AZUL: IMPULSANDO LA SOSTENIBILIDAD Y EL DESARROLLO ECONÓMICO DE LOS RECURSOS MARINOS

The Spanish region and the Mediterranean basin are positioned as a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot, hosting more than half of Europe’s catalogued species. However, this biological wealth faces serious threats such as terrestrial and marine pollution, habitat destruction and overfishing. In response to this scenario, significant efforts have been undertaken to restructure economic sectors towards sustainable and environmentally friendly models, with the blue sector being particularly prominent. This sector advocates the sustainable exploitation of seas and oceans, facing challenges such as generational change. Faced with this problem, there is a need for innovative initiatives that integrate education and environmental sustainability, using methodologies that attract new generations to professions in the blue sector. In this context, the Centro de Formación Folgado has led several initiatives at European, national and local level, with the aim of addressing the lack of generational change and promoting the sustainable management of marine resources. Its European projects include Blue Careers for a Sustainable Blue Economy (BOUTCAR), an educational alliance to develop training pathways in the blue sector, and Let’s Form Marine Shelters (FOMSHE), focused on the recovery of the seahorse in the Mediterranean. At the national level, the Emprende Impact project promoted a sustainable entrepreneurship programme aimed at vocational training students. At the local level, the Green Posidonia project has worked on the creation of a pilot plant for the cultivation of Posidonia oceanica and its repopulation, together with educational workshops, while Green Urban Changemakers promoted a more sustainable urban development in the city of Valencia. In addition, the Centre collaborates in other European projects such as BlueCircle, which identifies opportunities within the blue sector, and Let’s Talk Under The Sea (TAUTS), an initiative to promote ocean culture and raise awareness of the effects of underwater noise on marine wildlife. These initiatives reflect a strong commitment to sustainability and innovative education, consolidating the Centro de Formación Folgado as a benchmark in the transformation towards a more sustainable and attractive blue sector for new generations.