EU Project Open Doors For Young Offenders To Marine Industry

An EU-funded social project, ‘Turning Blue’ is capturing attention. It aims to integrate young individuals – aged 16 to 30 – who are serving time in prison into sustainable careers within the Blue Economy sectors. The project will run in five countries until 2026. It includes Portugal, which has a tuna fishing fleet, The Netherlands, Italy, Cyprus, and Romania. The youngsters would be employed in the maritime and aquaculture sectors under the initiative.

Portugal’s maritime triangle comprises mainland Portugal, Madeira, and the Azores, the last two renowned for artisanal fishers catching bigeye. However, it is not yet known whether Portuguese youngsters have started working in the tuna industry under ‘Turning Blue.’ EU tuna industry stakeholders, especially Spanish fleet owners and canners have been complaining about the dearth of youngsters working in the industry and the difficulty in hiring them.