The Majorera Limpet Goes Extinct in Fuerteventura: Only Survives in Jandía

A study by the University of La Laguna reveals that the Majorera limpet has disappeared from almost the entire coast of Fuerteventura, with only one population persisting in Jandía. The species, protected since 2015, remains critically endangered.

The Majorera limpet (Patella candei), an endemic mollusc of Fuerteventura and the Salvaje Islands, is on the brink of extinction in the Canary Islands. A study led by the University of La Laguna (ULL) has confirmed that the species has practically vanished from the entire Majorera coast and from the islet of Lobos, with only a single relict population surviving in the south of the island, in the Jandía peninsula.

The research, published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, was conducted by the Marine Community Ecology and Conservation group (ECOMAR) at ULL. It is part of the doctoral thesis of Marina Aliende Hernández, supervised by researchers José Carlos Hernández and Beatriz Alfonso, with the collaboration of honorary professor Jorge Núñez, who sampled the species in 1994.

A Recovery Plan That Has Not Worked

The Majorera limpet inhabits intertidal zones, where it is exposed to air during low tide, making it extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure, its main threat. In 2015, the Canary Islands Government approved a recovery plan (Decree 161/2015) that established priority conservation areas and completely prohibited its collection. However, the study shows that its status has not improved compared to historical data from recent decades.

Researchers warn that the situation is “urgent” and call for new strategies to protect the species. The area of Jandía where the Majorera limpet still persists is characterised by strong waves throughout the year, a physical factor that may be hindering illegal fishing by limiting access to the coast.

A Natural Heritage That Is Being Lost

For Canarians, the Majorera limpet is not just a mollusc: it is part of the unique biodiversity of the archipelago. Its disappearance would represent an irreparable loss for the marine ecosystem of Fuerteventura. Scientists insist that legal protection is not enough if it is not accompanied by monitoring and effective measures against poaching.

The ULL study serves as a wake-up call to administrations to act before it is too late. Meanwhile, the Majorera limpet survives in Jandía, in a delicate balance that could break at any moment.