The Trade Navigation Tour (TNT) officially launched on 17 September 2025 in Le Guilvinec, France, marking the beginning of a transnational journey that will span France, Spain, and Portugal. The first day of the tour was a momentous occasion, with the official opening ceremony led by Maria Caldeiro, the project coordinator from FUNDAMAR.
The tour kicked off with a series of engaging activities, beginning with a visit to the “Women and the Sea” maritime photography exhibition, which celebrated the role of women in maritime history. Participants also explored Haliotika – Cité de la Pêche, a unique maritime heritage centre that highlights the region’s fishing industry and sustainable practices. In the afternoon, participants attended a seaweed cooking demonstration by Scarlette Le Corre, an expert in marine-based gastronomy, offering a hands-on experience of how local marine products can be used in sustainable culinary practices.
The day concluded with the presentation of three French FISATUR incubation projects—Les Croisières Bigoudènes, PesKet, and Estran’Ordinaire—aboard the Kersaux boat, as well as a fishing boat landing observation at the local port, providing a real-time look at the fishing industry in action.
Concarneau: Exploring Maritime Tourism and Visitor Experiences
On 18 September, the TNT continued its journey in Concarneau, where the focus shifted to maritime tourism and visitor experiences. A roundtable discussion titled “Between Expectations and Reality – How Are Visitors Transforming Maritime Tourism?” was held, providing valuable insights into the evolving role of visitors in shaping the future of maritime tourism.
Another key session, “From Narrative to Experience: Keys to Designing Sensitive and Memorable Maritime Tourism”, explored how to create authentic and immersive experiences while respecting cultural heritage and traditions.
Projects from Spain, Portugal, and France, which participated in FISATUR’s incubation programme, actively contributed to the discussions, sharing their experiences and perspectives on developing tourism that is both sustainable and deeply connected to local maritime culture.
Skills Development and Environmental Responsibility in Lorient and Étel
The tour then moved to Lorient and Étel on 19 September, with an emphasis on skills development and environmental responsibility. Maison de la Mer and Petra Maritima, two regional organisations, shared their knowledge and experience in strengthening skills within the maritime tourism sector, particularly in relation to sustainable tourism practices.
The day also featured local actors such as Maison Glaz and Chemin Détournés, who explored how sustainable tourism can promote environmental awareness while preserving maritime heritage. A special visit to Larmor Ostrea, an oyster farm that has diversified into innovative tourism experiences, offered participants the chance to see how businesses are merging traditional practices with modern, sustainable tourism initiatives.
Quiberon: Preserving Maritime Heritage and Building Territorial Identity
On 20 September, the TNT reached its final stop in Quiberon, where the focus was on preserving maritime heritage and territorial branding. The visit to La Belle-Iloise cannery showcased how local food products can be linked to both heritage preservation and branding efforts, creating a distinctive identity for the region.
Participants also enjoyed a guided tour of Quiberon, learning about the region’s efforts to preserve and share its maritime identity through cultural and tourism initiatives. These initiatives are helping to establish Quiberon as a key player in the growing blue tourism sector in France.
A Successful Start to the Trade Navigation Tour
The French stage of the TNT concluded on a high note after four days filled with valuable exchanges, new discoveries, and collaborative discussions across the sectors of fishing, aquaculture, heritage, and sustainable tourism. The FISATUR project would like to extend its gratitude to the local communities, partners, and organisations in France for their warm hospitality and valuable contributions, making this first stage of the tour a memorable success.
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