By its volume of production, the fishing industry occupies a prominent place among the economic activities of the European community. In fact, the economic relevance of this sector has prompted the development of a common fishing policy oriented towards the conservation and regulation of fish resources and aquaculture. In this regard, clear actions of environmental and ecological character have been contemplated in order to contribute to the sustainable and rational exploitation of the resources, as well as to minimize the adverse impact that the discards/residues generated by this activity would produce on the environment.          FAROS (the acronym for Integral Networking of Fishing Sector Actors to Organize a Responsible, Optimal and Sustainable Exploitation of Marine Resources) is an European project co-funded under the LIFE+ ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME of the EU, which aims the development and implementation of an efficient and integral discards and by-catch management network, implying all actors present in the fishing sector (fleets, ports, auctions, industries, etc.), which both aims the minimisation of discards/by-catch as well as their optimal valorisation to recover and to produce valuable chemicals of interest in the food and pharmaceutical industry. These valorisation technologies were already stated in a previous LIFE Project called BE-FAIR (www.befairproject.com). This objective complements the European Commission guidelines cited above oriented to the responsible and sustainable management of the European fishing activity, specially in what refers to “ the reduction of unwanted by-catches and progressive elimination of discards” and “making the best possible use of the captured resources avoiding its waste” (EC communication on the reform of the CFP). In this way, the project objective aims to contribute to the minimisation of the adverse ecological and environmental impact of fishing activities, by helping fleets comply with the so-called “no-discard” or “zero-waste” production aboard which, in agreement with the common fisheries policy, is aimed to promote a responsible and sustainable management of fisheries. PROJECT SUMMARY:  Project Title: Integral Networking of Fishing Sector Actors to Organize a Responsible, Optimal and Sustainable Exploitation of Marine Resources (FAROS).  Expected start date: 15/01/2010 Expected end date: 14/01/2013  Coordinating beneficiary: AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTÍFICAS  Associated beneficiaries : CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO DEL MAR – FUNDACIÓN CETMAR; CENTRO DE SUPERCOMPUTACIÓN DE GALICIA; INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGAÇAO DAS PESCAS E DO MAR; INSTITUTO ESPAÑOL DE OCEANOGRAFÍA; AUTORIDAD PORTUARIA DE VIGO.  Total project budget: 2.182.906 €  EC financial contribution requested: 1.063.357 € ( = 48.71 % of total eligible budget)