Within the framework of the international DEPUREMOS project—an initiative spearheaded by ESPOL and Ghent University (UGent) in collaboration with UTMACH, UTM, and UNESUM, funded by the Belgian development cooperation agency VLIR-UOS—the technical team held a strategic working session with artisanal fisheries representatives on Puná Island.
The meeting featured the participation of Alfredo Galarza, leader of the Campo Alegre Ancestral Artisanal Fisheries Users Association, alongside administrator David Palma and secretary Alexander Figueroa. During the community engagement session, ESPOL researchers provided an in-depth overview of the depuration systems' operation and outlined the essential logistical and technical criteria required for the upcoming installation of a bivalve depuration facility in the community.
Additionally, the working group reviewed project monitoring and tracking instruments while gathering direct feedback from community leaders regarding instructional manuals and training materials developed by the scientific team. These resources will support hands-on, participatory capacity-building for local fishers and community members participating in the initiative.
