Baiona to Bring Together International Blue Economy Experts at the First FARO Summit

16 October 2026

The event, organised by the Port Authority of Vigo and Baiona City Council, will take place on 19 and 20 November at the town's Parador and will address the main challenges facing maritime activities, sustainability and innovation.

The future of the oceans and the role of the blue economy in sustainable development will be the focus of the first FARO Summit (Future Alliance for the Oceans), to be held on 19 and 20 November at the Parador de Baiona. The Port Authority of Vigo and Baiona City Council have just presented this international event, which will bring together more than 50 experts, institutional representatives, port authorities, researchers and professionals from the maritime and fishing industries to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

The event coincides with the tenth anniversary of Blue Growth, the blue growth strategy launched by the Port of Vigo in 2016, and aims to establish a forum for dialogue and collaboration on innovation, decarbonisation, the protection of marine ecosystems and ocean-related economic development.

The FARO Summit was presented outside the Parador de Baiona, with the participation of Baiona's Mayor, Jesús Vázquez Almuiña; the President of the Port Authority of Vigo, Carlos Botana; and Galicia's Regional Minister for the Sea, Marta Villaverde. During his speech, the Mayor highlighted Baiona's close historical ties with the sea and the municipality's commitment to a development model that balances economic activity with the preservation of its natural heritage and maritime identity. Carlos Botana then outlined the main elements of the programme, emphasising the opportunity presented by this first edition to review ten years of Blue Growth and identify new areas of collaboration between ports, companies, institutions and research centres. Finally, the Regional Minister for the Sea highlighted the strategic importance of Galicia's maritime and fishing sector, both for its economic contribution and its close links to the region's culture and identity, while also emphasising the development of Galicia's blue economy.

The FARO Summit programme will combine conferences, panel discussions and presentations of practical experiences, exploring the blue economy from different perspectives. The opening keynote address will be delivered by biologist, author and science communicator Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente, who will present "A Climate of Change", focusing on the relationship between humans, biodiversity and environmental challenges.

With this first edition, Vigo and Baiona aim to strengthen their position as a meeting point for knowledge exchange, innovation and international cooperation in the blue economy, connecting professional activity with public awareness and the protection of the marine environment.