Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

The main objective is to monitor the amount of marine litter that exists in the marine areas protected by the Natura 2000 Network, as well as the marine environment of the Biosphere Reserve of the island of Fuerteventura, through synergies between different groups, from the fishing sector to the tourism sector, including all the associations active in the fight against plastic.

Specific objectives:

– Training and professionalization of the sectors.
– Specific training for the possible generation of new jobs with disadvantaged groups, and women.
– Collection and classification of marine litter that exists on the island.
– Enable infrastructures in the collaborating ports for the collection and classification of garbage.
-Study of the marine litter that reaches the island.
– To determine the impact of marine litter on the different mammals that arrive stranded on the island.
– Determine contaminants that may be attached to the microplastics that arrive on the island.
– To study the local population of pilot whales and their interaction with marine litter.
– Awareness campaigns with marine litter, and especially with single-use plastics.

1. Promotion of knowledge about marine litter through forums and workshops.
2.Reduction of marine litter in the marine environment through voluntary agreements with fishermen and associations.
3. Characterisation of marine litter by collecting data and indicators to assess litter pollution in the Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve.
4. Monitoring and evaluation of the state of conservation of habitats and species of environmental interest.
5. Monitoring and evaluation of the conservation status of the local colony of Pilot Whales in Fuerteventura.
6. Determination of chemical contaminants adhering to marine microplastics.
7.Development of conservation measures through cooperation between researchers and fishermen and intersectoral, collection of marine litter and promotion of a more responsible use of resources.
8.Awareness-raising actions on the protection, restoration of biodiversity and marine ecosystems

In the first phase of the Marine Litter Observatory, approximately 400,000 items of marine litter were classified, both in open waters through collaboration with fishermen and on the coast through collaboration with the public administration and environmental associations. Of the 28 tonnes of waste collected, 70% corresponded to the category of plastics, with its most important sources of origin being leisure and hospitality, tourist activity on beaches and fishing.

In this sense, awareness campaigns focused on these sources, developing zero and sustainable plastic producer markets on the island of Fuerteventura, mainly for the tourism sector. As well as the realization of training and professionalization courses for fishermen and local population in waste management.

In addition, in the marine SAC area “Sebadales de Corralejo” a small marine campaign was developed to study the interaction of marine debris with local cetacean populations, concluding that there was a possible interaction of 0.8 with these species.

Together with the Canary Islands universities, studies were carried out on the potential of the most degraded microplastics as major carriers of persistent organic pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, PCBs and pesticides.