The Catalan National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds was also recognized for its initiatives and best practices in ocean science to improve the health of marine ecosystems.
The 2024 Francesc Macià and Lluís Companys Memorials, which distinguish individuals and entities for their actions in favor of the Catalan language, culture, or nation, have recognized the career of Marta Estrada Miyares, a researcher at the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC). Estrada is a renowned oceanographer, focused on studying the distribution and dynamics of phytoplankton communities in marine ecosystems, as well as their interactions with physical and biological factors.
Additionally, the Catalan National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds was awarded for its efforts in the recovery of marine ecosystems and the populations of key species in Catalan fisheries. Coinciding with the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), the awards aimed to highlight and acknowledge the initiatives and best practices in ocean science for improving the health of marine ecosystems.
“I am very grateful for this award and for the fact that the Irla Foundation has embraced the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) as the theme of this year’s Lluís Companys Memorial. Initiatives like this help bring knowledge of the sea closer to the public,” celebrates Marta Estrada.
Furthermore, Joan Font i Pujol received an award for his contributions as an actor, founder, and director of the Comediants company. Throughout his professional career, Font has connected performing arts with popular culture and Catalan identity, becoming a significant figure in the public imagination.
In the collective category, the jury mentioned Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat for its ongoing editorial work, which has produced a catalog of more than 3,000 titles in Catalan history, literature, language, and culture, and one of the most emblematic magazines in Catalan, Serra d’Or.
The memorials will be presented at the 2024 Nit Irla, to be held on Thursday, June 20 at 7:00 PM, in the Oriol Bohigas Auditorium of the Ateneo Barcelonés (Calle Canuda, 6, Barcelona). The event will be hosted by the current president of the Irla Foundation, Joan Manuel Tresserras, who will publicly hand over the role to Raül Romeva, responsible for closing this edition's Nit Irla.