Cromaris – partner in the BLUE SMART project

The development of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture is one of the strategic goals for the development of Croatia’s fisheries sector. The project “Blue Education for Sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources – BLUE SMART” was therefore launched with the aim of creating new skills and knowledge in the blue economy sector and increasing the employability of current and future workers within this sector in Zadar County.   University of Zadar (Department of Ecology, Agriculture and Aquaculture) is the project holder, and its partners are Cromaris d.d., WWF Adria, and Zadar County Rural Development Agency (AGRRA). Cromaris is represented in the project by Slavica Čolak Ph.D.   Project activities are directed towards fulfilling two objectives: Creating conditions for providing new generations of students and experts with appropriate knowledge and skills that meet the needs of the blue sector. The objective will be achieved by creating the prerequisites for the establishment of a graduate programme “Sustainable Management of Aquatic Ecosystems” at the University of Zadar. The programme is scheduled to start in October 2017, and will be tailored to part-time students. Creating the online course “Fundamentals of Good Practice in Fisheries” in the area of fish breeding and processing for persons who are already employed or are seeking employment in the blue sector for the purpose of acquiring necessary skills. The course will be open and accessible to all, and the interested public will be able to access it through an online platform, thereby acquiring ECVET credits, recognized across Europe as one of the lifelong learning recognition models.   The project is co-funded by the European Union from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) at the “Blue Careers in Europe” EU funds contest. Estimated duration of the “Blue Smart” project is two years, from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018.