FISATUR is a 28‑month EMFAF‑funded initiative that promotes sustainable tourism based on fishing, aquaculture and maritime cultural heritage across the Atlantic region. The project maps existing tourism initiatives, supports new entrepreneurs through an incubation programme, and develops a cross‑border maritime route connecting France, Spain and Portugal. A central output is a GIS‑based cartographic viewer that identifies and characterises 425 tourism‑related organisations across the three regions.
FUNDAMAR – Fundación para la Pesca y el Marisqueo (Spain)
Coastal communities along the Atlantic seaboard are experiencing significant socio‑economic pressure due to declining fisheries, environmental constrains and restrictions, and the restructuring of aquaculture. These trends have weakened local economies and placed traditional maritime heritage at risk. FISATUR was created to explore whether tourism related to fishing, aquaculture and maritime culture could diversify local incomes, preserve cultural identity and support sustainable coastal development.
The FISATUR project aims to strengthen the resilience and sustainable development of Atlantic coastal communities by leveraging the rich cultural, natural and economic value of fishing, aquaculture and maritime heritage. Its objectives centre on identifying and characterising existing and emerging tourism opportunities linked to these sectors, building a solid evidence base through research, mapping and stakeholder engagement. The project seeks to empower local actors—fishermen, aquaculture professionals, cultural organisations, entrepreneurs and municipalities—by providing capacity‑building, mentoring and incubation support to transform ideas into viable tourism products and services. FISATUR also aims to stimulate innovation, encourage diversification of traditional maritime activities, and foster maritime cross‑border cooperation among the coasts of France, Spain and Portugal. By establishing an Atlantic network of tourism initiatives and developing tools such as the GIS cartographic viewer, the project ultimately intends to enhance local economies, preserve maritime heritage, promote environmentally responsible tourism practices, and contribute to a more cohesive and sustainable blue economy across the Atlantic region.
Key Results
Comprehensive GIS tool mapping 425 initiatives across France, Portugal and Spain, with thematic layers covering environmental education, cultural heritage, business tourism, crafts and more
Cartographic atlas using QGIS, providing regional and thematic maps
Standardised database created jointly by partners to ensure long‑term replicability and maintenance (minimum 5 years)
Incubation programme supporting up to 10 entrepreneurs per region to develop sustainable tourism products rooted in maritime heritage
Cross‑border maritime route from France to Portugal, enabling peer learning and promotion of tourism products
Transferability
The GIS model, data structure, and mapping approach can be reused by other sea basins or coastal regions wanting to promote tourism linked to natural and cultural maritime heritage
The incubation methodology is scalable and adaptable for similar blue‑economy entrepreneurship programmes
The cross‑border navigation route framework provides a transferable model for transnational cooperation in tourism or heritage sectors
Locations:
Atlantic Brittany (France)
Galicia (Spain)
Northern Portugal
Focus Areas:
Tourism linked to fishing and aquaculture
Maritime cultural heritage
Spatial mapping and data management (GIS)
Entrepreneurship in blue economy sectors
European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)