The European regional and provincial governments are betting on the nautical sector and are supporting the creation of the Atlantic Nautical Cluster... the Galician private sector through the Galician Association of Nautical Activities has been betting on this European cluster since 2017... at the meeting held these days, European nautical representatives have focused on presenting joint strategies to achieve the development of the Atlantic Europe through the potential for job creation and wealth that the Atlantic Nautical Cluster can assume.

The network of regions and nautical entities of the Atlantic CAPITEN chaired by the Vice-President of the Region of Brittany, Anne Gallo and in which the Galega Association of Nautical Activities (AGAN +) is involved as the sole representative of Galicia, presents the innovations and good practices for the development of the nautical and the strategy to develop the nautical through the Atlantic Nautical Cluster Network.

The representation of the public and private water sector in the Atlantic, grouped through the CAPITEN project, has expressed an interest in creating and developing the Atlantic Nautical Cluster. The Vice-President of the British Region Anne Gallo was present in the two days of activities as a sign of support for the sector. The Director of Tourism and Heritage of Britain, Ronan Le Baccon, and the President of the British Agency for Nautisme Bretagne, also supported the creation of this cluster with his presence.

Other countries like Ireland with two participating counties, the regions and provinces of France from the Manche to the Rochelle are betting on this water development network. In Spain, Galicia through the AGAN + Association, the only representation of the nautical, together with the collaboration of Tourism of Galicia exclusively and Canarias through the Research Center CETECIMA showed its support to the cluster. The Portuguese territories of Alto Minho, Adelo and Madeira also expressed their support.

It was agreed to use until 31 May 2021 to close the accessions to this cluster by opening up to other Atlantic territories and to industry, research and nautical innovation.

The great challenges in which this cluster will work are:

- Social challenge. Promoting the inclusion of all the population, especially the most remote from the sea.

- Economic challenge. Enhancing the increase of nautical tourists

- Climate and energy challenge. Promoting decarbonised transport and reducing the environmental impact of both the activities and the nautical industry.

- Methodological and technical challenge. Having the Atlantic Nautical Cluster of public and private entities in the Atlantic regions and with the technical support of the Conference of European Maritime and Peripheral Regions.

The main areas of work will be the social field by promoting access to the sea, infrastructure, activities, nautical centre and training and the environment by proposing sustainable solutions to the problems that nautical activity poses for the environment.

From AGAN +, its President Manuel Soliño, proposed to start working on the preparation of new projects in collaboration on three axes:

1. Turning nautical into one of the reference sports activities in the Atlantic regions by extending it to all public

2. Making nautical tourism one of the main attractions for visiting and meeting Europe by developing a network of nautical routes and coastal cruises that will enhance Atlantic Europe as a nautical destination

3. To make Atlantic Europe the global reference in the development of products, vessels and infrastructure based on eco-design, eco-construction and deconstruction, through the application of the circular economy by promoting a nautical industry that generates employment.

This will only be possible if the Galician public and private sector work together and bet on this sector as an emerging and future sector.