Councillor Narvay Quintero and Minister Luis Planas concluded the events in Santa Cruz de Tenerife marking the anniversaries of the reserves, announcing new measures against poaching.
The Councillor for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, concluded this Wednesday in Santa Cruz de Tenerife the commemorative event for the anniversaries of the Marine Reserves of Fishing Interest of the archipelago. During the event, held at the Government Subdelegation, the dispatch of a new state-of-the-art patrol boat and the incorporation of drones and underwater robots to enhance surveillance and combat poaching was announced.
Quintero highlighted that marine reserves “have proven to be an effective tool for recovering resources, conserving biodiversity, and strengthening the artisanal fishing sector.” The councillor emphasized that these areas generate environmental, fishing, social, and economic benefits by promoting the increase of biomass and the availability of species of fishing interest both inside and outside the protected zones.
Additionally, he noted that the reserves can contribute to generational renewal and the creation of new job opportunities while improving the conservation status of marine biodiversity and its habitats. “They are, ultimately, a key piece to ensure the present and future of fishing in the Canary Islands, as they allow for the compatibility of protecting our marine resources with maintaining an economic and social activity deeply linked to the islands,” Quintero stated.
The regional minister valued the role of fishermen as promoters and main defenders of these protected spaces and asserted that any progress in expanding the network of reserves must continue to develop with their participation and the support of scientific knowledge. “Marine reserves were born, to a large extent, from the initiative and commitment of the fishermen themselves. Therefore, their future must continue to be built alongside the sector, listening to professionals and making decisions based on updated scientific data,” he added.
Quintero also highlighted the importance of the shared management developed by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Ministry in the reserves of La Graciosa and the Northern Islets of Lanzarote and La Restinga-Mar de Las Calmas. “This institutional collaboration, combined with the participation of professionals and the support of scientific knowledge, is essential for making effective decisions and advancing sustainable management of fishing resources,” he stated.
For his part, Minister Luis Planas described the model of the Marine Reserves of Fishing Interest in the Canary Islands as a benchmark for sustainable management and co-governance, both nationally and internationally, based on reconciling the preservation of the seas with maintaining fishing activity. “Many people want to oppose conservation with activity; however, it is precisely alongside fishermen that we can best conserve our seas,” the minister affirmed.
During his speech, Planas announced the strengthening of surveillance in these areas through the upcoming dispatch of a new state-of-the-art patrol boat and the incorporation of advanced technological means, such as drones and underwater robots, to improve control of the reserves and optimize the protection of resources. The minister also called for the shared responsibility of society as a whole to combat illegal fishing. “We must be firm against poaching, which harms those who respect the law, and remember that there would be no poaching if no one bought that fish. Protecting our reserves is a task that involves us all,” he pointed out.
The Canary Islands currently have three Marine Reserves of Fishing Interest: La Graciosa and the Northern Islets of Lanzarote, created in 1995 and the largest in Spain, covering over 70,700 hectares; La Restinga-Mar de Las Calmas, in El Hierro; and the Islets of Lanzarote. The event included a round table with representatives from the Ministry, the Canary Government, the federations of fishing brotherhoods, the University of La Laguna, and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, where the evolution of these spaces and the main future challenges were discussed.
For Canary Island fishermen, the strengthening of surveillance represents a key tool to ensure the sustainability of their activity and protect their fishing grounds from poaching, a practice that directly harms those who comply with regulations. The new patrol boat and drones will allow for more effective control in hard-to-access areas, while underwater robots will facilitate the inspection of seabeds without interfering with legal fishing activity.
Councillor Quintero insisted that collaboration between administrations, the fishing sector, and science is the way to ensure the future of artisanal fishing in the islands. “Generational renewal and job creation depend on having healthy marine resources and management that integrates all actors,” he concluded.
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