BOUTCAR

BOUTCAR 4th Partners’ Meeting in Piraeus The BOUTCAR consortium successfully held its 4th Partners’ Meeting in Piraeus (21–22 October 2025), kindly hosted by SQLearn. Over two productive days, partners collaborated on the project’s key outputs, including the development of training paths, the design of the e-learning platform, and the strengthening of the European network for blue career collaboration. A dedicated workshop on the second day showcased synergies with other European initiatives — CIRCU-TECH, AQUATECHInn 4.0, BLUESLINKS, OPTIMA, BlueAquaEdu, MarLEN, and TASC-RestoreMed — fostering dialogue on innovation, skills, and sustainability in the blue economy. #BOUTCAR #BlueCareers #BlueEconomy #EMFAF #EUProjects #Sustainability #Innovation #SkillsDevelopment

Join us for our upcoming Blue Economy Workshop in Greece, either onsite or online 💙

Invitation to Projects in the Blue Economy The BOUTCAR consortium is pleased to announce that during our upcoming project meeting in Greece on 21–22 October 2025, we will hold a dedicated workshop session to exchange experiences and explore synergies with other initiatives in the #BlueEconomy. We warmly invite projects working on fisheries, aquaculture, blue careers, sustainability, or related areas to join us for this interactive session, either onsite in Greece or online. The workshop will be an opportunity to: ·       present your project and share lessons learned, ·       identify areas for collaboration, ·       strengthen networks supporting the #EUGreenDeal and #BlueGrowth. If you are interested in participating, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please fill in the form here: https://lnkd.in/eNpPWJh6 to express your interest.

BOUTCAR project was launched in 2023 and is funded by the EMFF. Project objectives are: -Develop new professional profiles and skills in the Blue Economy. Train professionals with specific skills in the maritime sector (fishing and aquaculture) to meet labor market needs. -Bridging the gap between training and the labor market. -Reducing the gap between what training systems offer and what businesses in the sector require. -Promote the attractiveness of maritime professions among young people. Make maritime careers more visible and desirable among young people. -Create a network between training and businesses. Promote collaboration between educational institutions, cooperatives, universities, and businesses in the sector. BOUTCAR is led by the Demetra Formazione (ITA), supported by the Spanish partners SGS, ARVI - Cooperativa de Armadores de Pesca del Puerto de Vigo and @cffolgado, by the Greek SQLearn, E-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL GROUP and University of Patras, by the Italians University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna), MARE Soc. Coop. a r.l.. and @Legacoop-Agroalimentare NI and by the Belgians Europêche . Among the new profiles that have recently emerged in the aquaculture is that of the 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫. Regulation (EU) 2021/1374 introduces new provisions for 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 who handle live bivalve molluscs. Let's take a detailed look at what this new Blue Economy figure does! ARVI - Cooperativa de Armadores de Pesca del Puerto de Vigo Europêche Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna SQLearn E-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL GROUP University of Patras

👩🔬 How do we attract more women, youth, and underrepresented groups into fisheries and aquaculture careers? BOUTCAR supports the EU’s Blue Generational Renewal Strategy, promoting: • Ocean literacy in schools • Internships via EU4Ocean • STEM education linked to marine careers • Modular upskilling for working adults And we’re making it practical: Piloting flexible course designs and career pathways that can adapt to learners' lives, not the other way around. A just blue transition must be inclusive, intergenerational, and accessible. #BlueSkills #Inclusion #STEM #GenderEquality #YouthOpportunities #BlueCareers #EUProjects

💼New Blue Professions Emerging – Recognised, Needed, and Future-Proof What does a Digital Aquaculture Specialist actually do? At BOUTCAR, we’re co-creating new, EU-recognised training profiles that reflect emerging needs in fisheries and aquaculture: - Digital Aquaculture Specialist - Marine Policy, Trade & Compliance Advisor - Sustainable Aquaculture/Fisheries Officer These roles integrate: • AI and smart monitoring • EU environmental law • Circular economy approaches • Lagoon and invasive species management • Trade and compliance skills ✓ Based on real feedback from industry + training providers. BOUTCAR is defining the future of work at sea. #BlueJobs #SkillsForTheFuture #Aquaculture #Fisheries #DigitalSkills #Sustainability #VocationalTraining

As Europe expands offshore renewable energy, fishers and aquaculture workers face new challenges, and new possibilities. From navigating the International Maritime Organization's STCW/STCW-F International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) certification mismatches to participating in marine environmental monitoring, the BOUTCAR project is exploring how training and policy can bridge two essential blue sectors. Key barriers we have identified: • Short-term nature of offshore renewable energy ORE jobs • High certification costs • Legal uncertainty for repurposed vessels • Migrant labour often lacking upskilling pathways BOUTCAR recommends thus far: • Modular training to link fishers with ORE monitoring • Legal pathways to dual-use vessel operation • Inclusion of small-scale operators in the energy transition Let’s ensure no one is left behind in the blue transition🌊⚡ #BlueCareers #OffshoreWind #Fisheries #Upskilling #JustTransition #STCW #STCWF #EUProjects

What skills will define the next generation of fisheries and aquaculture professionals? As part of the BOUTCAR project, we’re shaping new career profiles for a changing blue economy and identifying the core competencies that matter. 🎯 Examples of competencies under development: Digital Aquaculture Specialist: • AI for fish health • GIS-based disease prediction • Smart sensor integration Sustainable Aquaculture/Fisheries Officer: • Circular seafood systems • Invasive species utilisation • Lagoon ecosystem management Marine Policy & Compliance Advisor: • EU fisheries law • Trade & traceability • Sustainability certifications These roles are designed to support the twin transitions — green and digital — while offering resilient, future-proof blue career pathways. 🚀 Our training pilots, course designs, and field testing are underway. Stay tuned for outcomes as we move toward delivery of new modules in 2026! #BOUTCAR #BlueCareers #SkillsForTheFuture #DigitalAquaculture #BlueComp #EUProjects #Upskilling #GreenTransition #Fisheries #Aquaculture #VocationalTraining #BlueEconomy

📘 New Policy Insights from BOUTCAR How can we align fisheries and aquaculture training with the EU’s green and digital goals? Our recent policy snapshot (full report coming soon!) explores the challenges, gaps, and opportunities facing the future #BlueWorkforce, from digitalisation to offshore renewables. 🔹 Key themes: • Integrating fishers in the offshore energy transition • Addressing skills shortages in sustainable aquaculture • Bridging certification gaps between fishing & maritime sectors • Recognising emerging blue professions: ✔️ Digital Aquaculture Specialist ✔️ Marine Policy & Compliance Advisor ✔️ Sustainable Fisheries Officer This work supports EU policy efforts, including the BlueComp framework by DG MARE of the European Commission – a shared language for blue skills (see http://tiny.cc/BlueComp). BOUTCAR contributes practical, field-based insights to shape real training solutions, including modular learning, qualification recognition, and youth engagement. 📄 The full policy report will be available at project end, but our work is already making waves. 😎 Just saying. #BlueCareers #BOUTCAR #SkillsAgenda #GreenTransition #DigitalSkills #Fisheries #Aquaculture #EUProjects #BlueEconomy #OceanUnion