Canary Islands launch pioneering program to tackle the impact of waste on marine life
The Canary Islands Government has launched a new programme to track marine litter across the archipelago, aiming to improve protection of its coastline and marine ecosystems. The initiative, led by the Department of Ecological Transition and Energy, forms part of the European CIRCULAROCEAN project.
Regional minister Mariano Hernández Zapata described the programme as a key step in tackling the growing challenge of ocean pollution. He stressed that having reliable and comparable data is essential for protecting marine environments and moving towards a more sustainable model of waste management.
Monitoring across 30 beaches
The scheme gets underway at the end of this month and will cover 30 beaches across all the islands, including the islet of Alegranza near Lanzarote.
Sampling will take place seasonally throughout the year, allowing experts to track how waste builds up and changes over time. During each survey, teams will collect detailed data on the amount, type and origin of litter found along the coast.
This information will help identify patterns and improve planning of measures to reduce the impact of rubbish on beaches and marine life.
Standardised data for the first time
A key feature of the programme is the introduction of a standardised data system, aligned with European Union guidelines. Until now, information on marine litter in the Canary Islands has been fragmented, making comparisons difficult.
Officials say the new approach will significantly improve the quality and usefulness of the data collected.
The project is being delivered with technical support from CETECIMA and SEO BirdLife, both of which bring scientific expertise to ensure the monitoring meets strict research standards.
International cooperation
CIRCULAROCEAN is part of the INTERREG MAC 2021–2027 programme and is co-funded by EU regional development funds. It brings together 15 organisations from Macaronesian regions such as the Azores and Madeira, as well as countries including Cape Verde, Ghana, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The long-term aim is to promote a circular economy model in marine environments, strengthening cooperation and sharing tools to tackle plastic pollution and other waste across the Atlantic.
With this initiative, the Canary Islands are positioning themselves at the forefront of efforts to combat ocean pollution on an international scale.
Share:
