Project activities from ECOAQUA / ULPGC

Marine SABRES
Aug 27
3 min read

Updated: Aug 29

ECOAQUA research institute is part of the University Institute (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - ULPGC).

Marine SABRES at International Climate Conference

by Jesús Padrón García and Candy Cecilia Ruano

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura hosted the International Climate Conference on the 17^th and 18^th of October 2024 at the Parque Tecnológico de Fuerteventura, focusing on climate change and biological corridors. Among various other participants, Ricardo Haroun, Director of ECOAQUA and Principal Investigator of Marine SABRES at the institution, represented the project alongside members of the research team. This event marked an important step towards strengthening collaboration with the conservation initiative for the International Biological Corridor in the Canary Islands.

(L) - Ricardo Haroun during his presentation at the International Climate Conference, highlighting the potential of the marine biological corridor in Macaronesia.

(R) - Candy Cecilia Ruano and Jesús Padrón García, from the MARINE Sabres research team of ECOAQUA’s Biodiversity and Conservation Group, alongside the project roll-up banner at the 2024 International Climate Conference in Fuerteventura.

Presentation at Socio-Cultural Centre of Veneguera, Mogán, Gran Canaria

by Ricardo Haroun Tabraue

On the 14^th of December 2024, Ricardo hosted the talk “Natural treasures in the marine environment along the Guguy coast” at the Socio-Cultural Centre of Veneguera, Mogán (Gran Canaria). The talk aimed to raise awareness of the rich marine biodiversity found along the Guguy coast, in the west of Gran Canaria, a stronghold for biodiversity conservation and a key research site for Marine SABRES in the Canary Islands, which could soon become the first land-sea National Park in the archipelago.

Erasmus students visit ECOAQUA Institute

by Jesús Padrón García

On the 22^nd of April 2025, students from the Erasmus Mundus Master’s programme Islands and Sustainability visited the ECOAQUA facilities in Taliarte to get to know the activities carried out by the institute’s different research groups. During their visit, a presentation of Marine SABRES was held by members of the Biodiversity and Conservation Research Group (BIOCON), providing an introductory overview of its main goals and milestones. The presentation also highlighted the project’s focus on the marine biological corridor for migratory species in the Macaronesia DA.

Field visit to Guguy, Gran Canaria as part of World Ocean Day events

Inma Herrera and Candy Cecilia Ruano

On the 7^th of June 2025, members of the Marine SABRES research team, Candy Cecilia Ruano and Inma Herrera, travelled to the Western sector of Gran Canaria near Guguy, the key site for a land-sea National Park proposal. The municipality of La Aldea de San Nicolás organised an event celebrating the World Ocean Day (8 June) and focused on cultural connection with the marine environment. This included the participation of the researchers in a colloquium on top of several other activities. Inma and Candy joined the discussion to share the aims of Marine SABRES, explain the ecological importance of the marine biological corridor in the Macaronesia DA, and talk about BIOCON’s research in Guguy.

ECOAQUA researchers Candy Cecilia Ruano and Inma Herrera, together with other stakeholders, during the colloquium.

Korean Maritime Institute visit to ECOAQUA

by Ricardo Haroun Tabraue and Jesús Padrón García

On the 16^th of June 2025, members of the Korean Maritime Institute (KMI) visited the ECOAQUA Institute to explore opportunities for institutional collaboration and to learn about several initiatives and projects in which the BIOCON group is involved.

During this visit, BIOCON members delivered an oral presentation offering an overview of these projects. This included the Marine SABRES project and its focus on the marine biological corridor for the protection of migratory species in Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.

European Marine Biology Symposium

by Jesús Padrón García and Inma Herrrera

The 58^th European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS) took place in Bodø, Norway, from the 6^th to the 9^thof July 2025. This event gathered around 240 scientists from 29 different countries, addressing relevant topics in marine biology research with growing importance of climate change and biodiversity protection and restoration.

MARINE Sabres researchers Inma Herrera (left) and Jesús Padrón García (right) during their presentations in the 58th EMBS in Bodø, Norway.

Inma Herrera and Jesús Padrón Gracía provided two oral presentations as members of the team involved in the Macaronesia DA. Their talks focused on cetacean sighting records southwest of Gran Canaria and on the marine biological features in Guguy, including habitats and species of conservation interest. Both presentations were related with the current proposal for the first land-sea National Park in the Canary Islands, a stronghold for the conservation of marine biodiversity in Macaronesia, including migratory species.