Javier Garat

Secretary General of Cepesca

Javier Garat is the voice of the fishing industry in Spain and beyond, his experience and professional record having made him a world-class authority in the field.

Javier Garat was born near the sea, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz), and although he chose the law as a professional career, he couldn’t help the currents of the Gulf of Cádiz taking him back to the sea, which he has made his area of expertise.

Garat started his legal career in the fishery industry by joining the fisheries team in the European Commission’s Legal Department as assistant to the Fisheries Adviser in the Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU. Later he practiced law at the NautaDutilh international law firm and in 2001 he joined the Spanish Federation of Fisheries Organisations (FEOPE) as general secretary. Today he is the general secretary of the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA).

In the international sphere, Garat also has responsibilities in several organisations such as the Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the European Union (Europêche) where he is president, and the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) where he is in his fifth terms also as president.

His knowledge of fishing legislation and the industry’s situation makes him the go-to expert for many international bodies. His most noteworthy contributions include his work as fisheries advisor to the Marine Programme of the Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit, his role in the Spanish Delegation to the UN or his presidency of the EU’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Council.