This initiative seeks to identify non-native fish species introduced into the waters of Gran Canaria associated with oil platforms.

This initiative of the Canarian Ports of Las Palmas Foundation seeks to identify non-native fish species introduced into the waters of Gran Canaria associated with oil platforms. The project’s actions seek to determine its abundance and the potential for the development of stable populations, in addition to proposing a series of control and corrective measures.

In recent years, oil platforms have operated relatively frequently in the waters of the province of Las Palmas, carrying with them different species of fish that are not typical of Canary Island waters, so this initiative is of great environmental interest.

Within the framework of the project “Non-native fish introduced by oil platforms in areas of the marine Natura 2000 Network of Gran Canaria”, the species introduced in Gran Canaria will be identified, quantified and studied, with special interest to the areas of the marine Natura 2000 Network. In addition, the main ecological characteristics of these non-native species will be determined in order to know the potential for the development of stable populations. Another objective of the project is to determine a series of control measures for these species. At the same time, the development of a communication and dissemination plan for the initiative is contemplated.

It is a project with a markedly innovative character, as it is the first time that the problem of species introduced by oil platforms has been addressed in Spain.