Members of the university’s Innovation and Sustainability strategic project for artisan fishing in Manabi, which is financed by Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, held a meeting in our branch campus in Quito to present the results after its first year of operations. 

The aim of the project is to reduce the effects of climate change, encourage responsible fishing, human development, promote jobs for women and young people in Manabi. The meeting was attended by Father Marcelo Farfán, Inspector of Salesians in Ecuador; Father Juan Cárdenas, UPS president; Charles-Michel Geurts, Ambassador of the European Union in Ecuador; Caterina Bertolini, Ambassador of Italy; Pietro Graziani, Co- director of Italian Agency for Development Cooperation; Leonardo Orlando, Prefect of Manabí; María Sol Villagómez, vice president of our branch campus in Quito; Bernardo Salgado, head of community engagement at the university; Enza Bosetti, coordinator of the project, and other guests.

 
Representatives of the municipality of San Benedetto del Tronto, Terra Di Siena, Blue Marine Service, Universidad de Ferrera and COSPE also attended the meeting. After the meeting, attendees visited the project to learn more about its benefits. 

UPS president Juan Cardenas thanked everyone who attended the meeting, “we are aware of the fact that academia is meaningful only when it works together with people’s real needs. We are committed to working with communities and carrying out research on biology and ecology in order to provide data and tools to improve the management of fishing resources”, he said. 
 

Bosetti thanked all the members for their support for less privileged sectors and spoke about how the university has helped improve people’s quality of life. Father Marcelo Farfan spoke about the university’s mission and how this project is an example that can be applied in other fields. “These proposals help us evaluate the possibility of working for the country’s development jointly with various sectors and UPS is fulfilling that role."