The Organization of Fishing Producers of Almería (OPP-71) has granted this Friday an institutional recognition to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Junta de Andalucía during the III Gala of the Red Shrimp Awards of Almería, which has taken place at the Apollo Theater in the capital.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández Pacheco, has been the one in charge of receiving the award on behalf of the Ministry and has conveyed his gratitude for a distinction that he has received with "enormous joy and, above all, with a lot of gratitude." "There are recognitions that are especially important, not only for what they represent but for who grants them. And this is one of them," Fernández-Pacheco has pointed out.
The regional official has emphasized the added value of having the professionals of the sea themselves decide to grant this award. "That it is the fishermen themselves, the people who go out to sea every day, who know its difficulties and who work for the future of this sector, who recognize the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, is something that fills us with pride," he has stated.
Fernández-Pacheco has wanted to extend the recognition to the entire staff of the Ministry that maintains direct contact with the fishing sector. "This recognition is also for them. For those who listen, for those who address the concerns of our fishermen and for those who understand that behind every decision there are companies, workers, and families," he has highlighted.
The red shrimp, emblem of fishing in Almería
At the opening of the event, the minister congratulated the Organization of Fishing Producers of Almería for consolidating this gala, which is already in its third edition and which values the effort, dedication, and talent of those who uphold the prestige of the Red Shrimp of Almería. The head of Agriculture has emphasized the relevance of this Mediterranean product, which represents "not only the gastronomic quality of the province but also the history, tradition, and effort of generations of sea professionals."
For Fernández-Pacheco, "talking about the Red Shrimp of Almería is talking about much more than an extraordinary gastronomic product. It is talking about our history, our roots, our way of understanding the sea, and, above all, about the people who have been living off it for generations."
In this line, he has focused on the daily work of the fishermen from Almería, reminding that "behind every red prawn there are men and women who go out to fish, who know the sea, who respect its resources and who work every day to bring to our tables a product of exceptional quality."
The councilor has taken advantage of his intervention to convey his congratulations to the awardees of this third edition and has highlighted the need to make visible the contributions made from research, communication, and gastronomy to reinforce the social recognition of the fishing sector.
Likewise, he has referred to the difficulties currently faced by marine professionals and has defended the importance of being able to carry out their activity with safety and predictability. "The sustainability of our marine resources must go hand in hand with the economic and social viability of our fleet. Both are essential," Fernández-Pacheco has stated, emphasizing that the decisions affecting fishing must consider the reality of those who live from it.
List of awardees at the III Gamba Roja Gala of Almería
The III Gala of the Gamba Roja Awards of Almería, organized by OPP-71, has recognized this year various professionals and entities that, from different fields, contribute to the knowledge, promotion, and prestige of the Almerian fishing sector.
In the category of Research and Science, the award has gone to the scientist Joan Baptista C.; the Communication Award has been granted to Sergio Gómez; and the Gastronomic Promotion Award has recognized the chef José Álvarez. For its part, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development has received the Institutional Support Award.
The event has also included several special recognitions to individuals and entities linked to the fishing field, among them the territorial delegate of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development in Almería, Aránzazu Martín, Rocío Béjar, or Mª Gádor Chema, as well as Simrad and representatives of the Agency for Agricultural and Fisheries Management of Andalusia (Agapa).