CMAT – Costa da Morte Asociación de Turismo has been awarded a grant to carry out the project “Cartografía do mar: patrimonio, produto local e pesca artesanal na Costa da Morte” (Mapping the Sea: heritage, local produce and small-scale fishing in Costa da Morte), an initiative designed to promote the products of small-scale coastal fishing, encourage their responsible consumption and bring the public closer to the heritage and trades linked to the sea.
The project, with a total budget of €63,283, is supported by the grants for projects included in the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) strategies managed by GALP Seo de Fisterra Ría de Muros Noia Costa Sostible, within the framework of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027. It falls under Priority 3 of the fund, which seeks to enable a sustainable blue economy and to foster the development of fishing and aquaculture communities in coastal areas.
The initiative will take place in the area covered by GALP Seo de Fisterra Ría de Muros Noia Costa Sostible, in the municipalities of Dumbría, Cee, Corcubión, Fisterra and Carnota.
Knowing the product to value the work done at sea
“Cartografía do mar” combines educational, outreach and promotional actions to improve knowledge of local fishing resources and strengthen the relationship between the public and the small-scale fishing sector.
One of the main actions will be the creation of a digital, interactive teaching unit on the fishing resources of Costa da Morte, adapted to the curriculum of the first cycle of primary education. This material will include information on the importance of sustainable fishing and responsible consumption, fishing gear, a calendar of species by season, identification sheets for the most notable products and content on labelling and sales processes. It will also feature illustrations, photographs, videos, games and interactive activities, and will be available on the CMAT website as an outreach resource.
Maritime heritage is another of the project’s core strands, with a specific action to recover and share the nautical charts of Costa da Morte. The initiative aims to highlight their value as part of the history of navigation, fishing and knowledge of the coastline. This action will be rounded off with a public event bringing together experts, CMAT representatives, cultural and tourism stakeholders, fishing sector professionals and interested members of the public.
The programme also includes guided visits to fish auction halls, markets and places linked to seafaring trades. These experiences will offer an insight into small-scale fishing and the value chain of local seafood, guided by people who work in these fields. The visits will last approximately 90 minutes, with a maximum of 20 participants. The first 12 will take place in 2027, once the structure and itineraries have been designed, and another 12 will follow in 2028.
The promotion of local seafood will be completed with an information and audiovisual campaign in collaboration with markets, fish auction halls and fishmongers. The content will provide practical information on the most notable products from each area, their seasonality, culinary uses and nutritional value, as well as guidance on choosing the most suitable product for each recipe.
Three years of work
The project will run from 2026 to 2028. The first year will focus on creating the visual identity, coordinating with local stakeholders and producing the teaching unit. In 2027 the unit will begin to be rolled out in schools, the action to recover and share the nautical charts will be carried out, and both the guided visits and the campaign to promote local produce will get under way. During 2028 the educational roll-out will be completed and the visits and campaign will continue.
The project has a total budget of €63,283, of which €54,423.38 corresponds to the grant awarded, spread over three years: €14,984.64 in 2026, €23,413.50 in 2027 and €16,025.24 in 2028. This contribution amounts to 86% of the total budget.
Through “Cartografía do mar”, CMAT seeks to strengthen knowledge and appreciation of small-scale fishing products, promote more responsible consumption habits and help spread a seafaring culture that is part of the identity and economic life of Costa da Morte.
