Last week (February 19-24, 2024) the University of Porto hosted the first part of the internship of lecturers of the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) under the program of the ERASMUS+ AFISHE project "Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries Education for Green Deal in Armenia and Ukraine: from education to ecology".
On the first day of the internship, an international group of lecturers from Ukraine and Armenia was welcomed by the vice-rector of the University of Porto, Joana Carvalho, in the ancient rectorate building in the historic center of the city. Then there was a tour of the territory of the university accompanied by a guide, who told about the history and notable personalities associated with it, and introduced the exhibition of sculptures made in the genre of naive art. In addition, the Portuguese project managers Augusto Faustino and Paulo Vaz Pires introduced the participants to the schedule of trainings and excursions.
On the next day of the internship, there were excursions to the exposition of the aquarium network "SEA LIFE" in the city of Porto and to the scientific division of the University of Porto - to the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research "CIIMAR RESEARCH CENTER". The aquarium impressed with the variety of living organisms and the wide range of ecosystems that are reproduced on its territory - from freshwater rivers to tropical and cold-water marine ones. A huge number of projects are simultaneously implemented in the scientific center (in the fields of sustainable management of marine resources, environmental monitoring, aquaculture and biotechnology, etc.). Therefore, within the framework of the familiarization tour, the Portuguese partners presented the main research units related to genetic research, biomonitoring, conservation of valuable and endangered species.
On the third day, the project participants visited the fishing port, the DOCA PESCA fish auction and the PINHAIS cannery, where they got acquainted with the features of sanitary control of caught fish and seafood, the organization of fish auctions in the port, as well as the technological processes of processing and manufacturing canned fish according to traditional methods. technologies that have been passed down from generation to generation for more than 100 years (and we wrapped one in a paper wrapper with our own hands, which was then given to us).
Fourth day: field trip to the modern high-tech mariculture farm "FLATLANTIC AQUACULTURE", the most famous and largest in Portugal (clearly visible on Google map satellite images) and a visit to the "ELA" museum and aquarium. The aquarium and museum are dedicated to local marine and freshwater biotopes, aquatic fauna and flora, including fish caught by local fishermen, as well as marine invertebrates and macroalgae.
On the fifth day, the training session began, which will continue throughout the next week. The training program is very full, to be continued…
Julia GROKHOVSKA,
Department of Water Bioresources
