FAMENET stories

More than 30 years ago, Don Antonio Hernández Barrera stood under the Andalusian sun, gazing across the serene estuaries of Barbate. To most, those were simply quiet wetlands; to him, it was the canvas for a family dream.

For over 60 years, UAB Arvydai has helped shape aquaculture in rural Lithuania. With decisive support from the EU, this family-run company has speeded upits transition towards a fully integrated model that combines organic fish farming, nature restoration and eco-tourism.

The Sea and Culture Museum in the village of Latsi, Cyprus, reconnects the local community with its maritime heritage. Set in a restored warehouse, this EU-funded project has turned an abandoned building into a cultural and educational space, featuring exhibits on local fishers, sailors,

Along the coast of Cádiz in southern Spain, producer organisation OPP72 is helping small-scale fishers secure fair markets and protect their future. Established in 2010, this organisation brings together around 70 producers and 59 vessels from the ports of Conil, La Atunara, and Rota.

Fishers are a cornerstone of Germany’s Baltic coastal communities, but as fish stocks dwindle and profits shrink, many are being forced out of the industry. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the EU-funded Sea Ranger programme offers a bold solution

On frozen Lake Inari in northern Finland, small-scale fishers are sustaining a generations-old way of life. As climate change is making their livelihood increasingly uncertain, the Sámi Education Institute is helping them adapt.

At the northern tip of Denmark, the Port of Skagen, the nation’s largest fishing port, is shifting to cleaner energy. With EU support, the port is moving away from diesel-powered generators and installing fully electric power coming from shore for the energy-intensive unloading process

Onake, an artisanal smokehouse in Saint-Jean-de-Luz in France’s Basque country, has built a reputation both nationally and internationally thanks to its focus on high-quality smoked salmon, trout and other seafood from the Basque region.

For more than 30 years, EU funding has helped support the transformation of Bremerhaven’s abandoned harbour into one of northern Germany’s most popular visitor attractions.