Òscar Ordeig took advantage of the visit to learn about strategic projects and tour the centre’s facilities.
The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) welcomed this week a visit from Òscar Ordeig i Molist, Councillor for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia. This meeting allowed the councillor to gain first-hand insight into the main lines of research carried out at the ICM-CSIC and explore potential avenues for collaboration in sustainable fisheries and marine environmental protection.
During his visit, the councillor was accompanied by Antoni Espanya i Forcadell, Director General for Maritime Policy and Sustainable Fisheries; Dr Lluís Calvo, CSIC delegate in Catalonia; and other institutional representatives.
The meeting included an institutional presentation of the ICM-CSIC, highlighting the importance of marine research in addressing the challenges of sustainable fishing and the preservation of aquatic ecosystems. In addition, strategic topics were discussed, such as the ICATMAR project, a joint initiative between the Department of Agriculture and the ICM-CSIC aimed at improving fisheries management in Catalonia, and the “Mar de Ciència” programme, an initiative designed to bring marine research closer to the public.
Following this, Councillor Ordeig and the rest of the delegation toured various ICM-CSIC facilities, including the aquarium and experimental chamber service, where studies on the behaviour and physiology of marine species are conducted; the oceanographic engineering service, which develops technology for ocean monitoring; and the ICATMAR control room.
At the end of the visit, the councillor highlighted the significance of the research carried out at the ICM-CSIC in ensuring a sustainable future for our waters and fisheries resources, reaffirming the commitment of the Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia to science and innovation in the marine environment.