The objective of this OCEANA initiative is to achieve the declaration of the first Spanish national marine park on the island of El Hierro.

With this project, OCEANA continues the initiative “Contribution to the determination of the valuation of marine ecosystem services on the island of El Hierro”, which it developed in 2014 with the support of the Biodiversity Foundation.

In this second phase , the analysis of the species and habitats carried out in the expedition that took place during the months of September and October 2014 will be completed, in addition to preparing a final report of recommendations on the environmental suitability that the protection of the documented area would entail. The ultimate goal is to achieve the declaration of the first Spanish marine national park on the island of El Hierro.

To this end, in this second phase it will insist on involving and raising awareness among institutions, entities, agents and the general public about the need to protect the rich biodiversity of the island of El Hierro, encouraging all the actors involved to sustainably manage its resources.

Along these lines, several seminars and talks will be held in collaboration with various entities that support the project, such as the Autonomous National Parks Body, the University of La Laguna, the Cabildo of El Hierro, diving centers or the Official College of Biologists of the Canary Islands. In addition, mapping will be prepared and OCEANA will attend meetings and symposia where it will present its findings.

Another of the project’s actions is the development of a communication and dissemination campaign in the media and social networks.