CMAT – Costa da Morte Asociación de Turismo has been awarded a grant to carry out the project “Trazando a Costa: patrimonio, produto local e pesca artesanal na Costa da Morte” (Tracing the Coast: heritage, local produce and small-scale fishing in Costa da Morte), an initiative that aims to raise the visibility and standing of small-scale fishing products, encourage people to eat them and help the fishing trade gain wider social recognition.
The project, with a total budget of €63,283, is supported by the grants for projects under the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) strategies managed by GALP Costa da Morte, within the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027. It falls under Priority 3 of this European fund, which seeks to enable a sustainable blue economy in coastal areas and to foster the development of fishing and aquaculture communities.
The project covers nine municipalities in the GALP Costa da Morte area: A Laracha, Carballo, Malpica de Bergantiños, Ponteceso, Cabana de Bergantiños, Laxe, Vimianzo, Camariñas and Muxía.
Education, heritage and promotion of local produce
“Trazando a Costa” is built around several complementary lines of work that connect seafaring culture and the history of navigation with small-scale fishing as it is today and with the promotion of local products.
One of its main strands is education, through the creation of a digital, interactive teaching unit on the fishing resources of Costa da Morte, aimed at pupils in the 5th and 6th years of primary school. The resource will cover topics such as local species, sustainable fishing gear, the blue economy and product traceability, with the aim of bringing knowledge of the sea and the trades linked to it closer to younger generations. It will be rolled out gradually in schools between 2027 and 2028, together with a user guide for teachers.
Maritime heritage will also play a prominent role. The project includes the research, recovery and digitisation of the area’s historical nautical charts, which will be used in exhibitions and promotional material to explain the origins, evolution and hardships of fishing in these waters.
Another planned action is a programme of guided visits to fish auction halls, markets and other landmark places linked to the sea. Through these experiences, the public will be able to learn first-hand about seafaring trades, the work of fishmongers and auctioneers, and the auction and labelling systems that form part of the value chain of fishing products. Twelve visits are planned for 2027 and another twelve for 2028.
The third major area of work will be promoting the consumption of local produce, through social media campaigns and information materials at points of sale. These actions will highlight the trades linked to the sea, the seasonality of species and the health and sustainability benefits of eating locally caught fish and shellfish.
A project running until 2028
The work will be spread over three annual phases. In 2026 the focus will be on creating the visual identity, coordinating with local stakeholders and producing the teaching unit. During 2027, work will cover the recovery of historical charts, the first phase of the roll-out in schools, the first guided visits and the launch of the promotional campaign. In 2028 the roll-out will be completed in the remaining schools, and the visits and communication actions will continue.
The project has a total budget of €63,283, of which €55,454.89 corresponds to the grant awarded, spread over three years: €15,268.65 in 2026, €23,857.26 in 2027 and €16,328.98 in 2028. This contribution amounts to 87.63% of the total budget.
With this project, CMAT aims to help small-scale fishing be recognised not only as a key economic activity but also as an essential part of the cultural identity and heritage of Costa da Morte, while encouraging people to buy local and strengthening the links between the fishing, education and tourism sectors.
