The Spanish Fisheries Confederation (Cepesca) has named Julio Morón Ayala as its new president.
Marine biologist Julio Morón replaces Juan Manuel Liria Franch who has been in post since 2020. He has latterly served as the first vice president of Cepesca, a role he has held since April 2021.
Morón has a long history in the fishing sector, beginning as an observer on board vessels in a variety of grounds including the Falklands, central Atlantic and Gulf of Cádiz.
He has worked as an FAO associate expert for the Indo-Pacific Tuna Program in Sri Lanka and collaborated with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography directing the Spanish Fisheries Office.
Other roles include scientific advisor to the Organisation of Associated Producers of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels during which time he worked on the ambitious project to make the Spanish tuna fleet the first in the world to hold the ‘Responsible Fishing Tuna’ certification.
During his time as president of Cepesca, he hopes to futureproof the industry, ensuring it is socially and economically responsible. “Taking into account the unstoppable growth of the world population and the need for quality proteins, such as those from the sea, to feed it,” he says, “only from these axioms can we maintain a sustainable and satisfactory balance.”
