Javier Garat

Secretary General, Cepesca

Javier Garat was born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Spain) 44 years ago, and he got a degree in Law and Graduate in Community Law by the Complutense University of Madrid (CEU San Pablo) and Master’s Degree in International and European Law by the Catholic University of Lovaina (U.C.L. Belgium).

After Working in Brussels during two years (1996 and 1997) in the Fisheries Team of the Legal Service of the European Commission and as assistant of the Fisheries Counselor of the Spanish Permanent Representation to the European Union, he was practicing lawyer during four years in the Dutch International Law Firm Nauta Dutilh. In April 2001, he joined the Spanish Federation of Fisheries Organizations, FEOPE, as Secretary General. Since then, he has focused his work in the defense of the Spanish fisheries interests around the world.

Since July 2007, he is the Secretary General of the Spanish Fishing Confederation, Cepesca. He has been Chairman of the EU Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA) from May 2007 to July 2009 and Chairman of ICFA (International Coalition of Fisheries Associations) between 2007 and 2009. Currently he is Chairman of Europêche (Association of National Organizations of Fishing Enterprises in the European Union), Chairman of the European Fisheries Technology Platform (EFTP), Fishery Advisor of the International Sustainability Unit´s Marine Programme of HRH The Prince of Wales, member of the board of directors of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), Expert and Alternate of the Spanish Fisheries Counselor of the European Economic and Social Committee, member of several Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), member of the Management Board of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, member of the Advisory Committee for the Spanish Fisheries Sector, Counselor of the General Council of the Marine Social Institute, member of the Food Prices Observatory, Lecturer of the “Master in Environmental Management” from IE University and member of the Spanish Maritime Cluster.

He is lecturer of the “Master in Environmental Management” of the Instituto de Empresa, lecturer of the “Master’s Degree in Maritime Law and Business” of the Spanish Maritime Institute, lecturer of the “Master’s Degree on Economy and Management of Fisheries and Aquiculture” University of Vigo, lecturer in the “Post.- graduated Course of Specialization in Fisheries Economy” from The University of Santiago de Compostela, lecturer in the “Master’s Degree on the Economy and Management of Fishing Activity” from Barcelona University and lecturer of various fisheries courses of the International Labour Organization (ILO). He has also participated as a lecturer in several Public Hearings of the Committee on Fisheries of the European Parliament, in Conferences organized by the European Commission, by the Nordic Council of Ministers and in numerous international and national fisheries forums, including FAO Fisheries Committee, the OCDE, ILO, IUCN, EFARO, etc. and as adviser member of the Spanish Delegation in UN Meetings.

In 1996, he received The Cross of Naval Mention with White Emblem. In September 2010 was appointed Knight of the Brotherhood the Golden Fleece (Toison D’Or).

He is shareholder and member of the Board of Directors of Albacora Group. Fluent in Spanish, English and French.

Spanish version.

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