The international organization Mission Blue has declared the coastal environments of Tenerife and La Gomera a 'Marine Hope Spot' in recognition of the marine richness and ecosystems of these environments in the Archipelago. This distinction was communicated during the COP25 Climate Summit, which was recently held in Madrid.
This decision is based on the extraordinary combination of species that coexist in these oceanic waters, the richness of Special Conservation Areas such as Teno-Rasca, Playa Santiago-Valle Gran Rey and Los Órganos, and the more than 700,000 visitors from all over the world who visit these enclaves to observe birds, cetaceans and the scenic cliffs that surround the islands.
Dr. Sylvia Earle, founder of Mission Blue and Prince of Asturias Award 2018, applauded the initiatives of the governments of Spain and the Canary Islands to conserve the marine life of these waters and stressed the importance of reinforcing them to advance towards greater protection of the oceans. Similarly, she encouraged both administrations to create a Marine Protected Area that includes all the waters of this Archipelago. "This would help Spain achieve the objectives set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature of the United Nations (IUCN), to raise to 30% the percentage of marine territory protected worldwide in 2030," she added.
The regional Minister for Ecological Transition and the Fight against Climate Change, José Antonio Valbuena, thanked Mission Blue for this recognition and highlighted the Executive's intention to "promote a truly sustainable blue economy as a natural capital and engine for the development of the islands".
For his part, the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Pedro Martín, thanked for the distinction awarded and recalled that the Ministry of Ecological Transition has been applying a moratorium since last August, at the request of the island Corporation, in which it has paralyzed the granting of licenses to cetacean observation vessels. He also pointed out that the island has a Charter for Sustainability for the sighting of these species by which companies in the sector commit to reduce the impact of their activity at sea.
Similarly, the president of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, stressed the commitment to increase conservation measures in the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera, in a clear objective based on sustainability. "We are convinced that Mission Blue will contribute to shape and define, in the short term, new protection areas in this strip with high richness," he asserted.
About Mission Blue
Led by Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue represents a global coalition of entities and individuals working to raise public awareness, access and support for a global network of marine protected areas. This is achieved through documentaries, media and innovative technological tools encompassed in a common communication campaign.
Mission Blue embarks on regular ocean expeditions that raise awareness of vital ecosystems and garner support for their protection. Similarly, they rely on experts and leading professionals such as the Tenerife underwater photographer Francis Pérez, and Marine Biology researchers from the University of La Laguna such as Dr. Natacha Aguilar and Professor Alberto Brito.
