On 10 October 2026, during the “Fish Day in Roja” event at Roja Marina, Kurzeme Planning Region and the University of Latvia invited local residents to share their views and suggestions on the future of Roja Parish, with a particular focus on the challenges posed by climate and demographic change. The public engagement activity was organised as part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe project “RUDI – Rural Innovation to Address Demographic and Climate Challenges”.
Climate change, population ageing, population decline and attracting new residents are increasingly important issues affecting the development of rural and coastal areas. These challenges are particularly relevant in Roja, given the area’s close ties to the sea, fisheries, natural resources, the coastal economy and local businesses. Finding appropriate solutions requires listening to local residents and understanding how these changes affect their daily lives and future opportunities.
The “Fish Day in Roja” event brought together local residents, representatives of the fisheries sector, entrepreneurs and visitors to Roja. The programme included a fish market, a fish-smoking masterclass, workshops on coastal traditions, meetings with fishermen and fish processors, and recognition of skilled professionals in the fishing industry.
As part of the RUDI project, visitors were invited to take part in a public engagement activity called “Ideas Boards”, centred around the question “What Matters to the People of Roja Parish?” Participants were encouraged to share their thoughts on the development of the parish, the needs and challenges of the local community, and opportunities to adapt to climate and demographic change.
The activity aimed to encourage discussion on how to maintain Roja Parish as an attractive place to live and work for people of all generations, strengthen local businesses and community resilience, and better prepare for the impacts of climate change on the coastal environment and economic activities.
Visitors were also introduced to the RUDI project’s plans to establish the Roja Rural Innovation Cluster (RIC). The cluster will serve as a collaborative platform where local residents, businesses, the municipality and other stakeholders will work together to identify local challenges, explore innovative solutions and develop ideas to help Roja Parish adapt to future changes.
The discussions initiated during the event and the views collected from local residents will provide a foundation for future co-creation activities, the identification of local development priorities and potential areas for pilot innovations.
Participation in “Fish Day in Roja” marked an important step in engaging the local community and ensuring that responses to climate and demographic challenges are informed not only by research and expert assessments but also by the experiences, needs and ideas of local people.
We invite all residents of Roja Parish, local businesses and other interested stakeholders who wish to actively contribute to the establishment of the Roja Rural Innovation Cluster (RIC) and its future activities to contact Kurzeme Planning Region and express their interest in participating. This is an opportunity to get involved, share ideas and work together to develop practical solutions to the challenges posed by climate and demographic change in Roja Parish.
RUDI project activities in Roja will continue, strengthening cooperation among local stakeholders and jointly developing solutions for a sustainable, vibrant and resilient coastal community.
The RUDI project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101286747). The views and opinions expressed are those of the project partners only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency.
