Researchers from the CSIC and the ULPGC present the results of a system that combines state-of-the-art satellites, high-resolution mathematical models and oceanographic campaigns.
The findings demonstrate the need to improve current models in order to fully capture the complexity of the marine dynamics of the islands, which is vital for the safety of marine farms.
The Multipurpose Room of the Taliarte Marine Science and Technology Park today hosted the closing ceremony of the SIRENA Project (Integrated Remote System for Monitoring, Detection and Prediction of Risks from Potentially Harmful Marine Events of Natural or Anthropogenic Origin in Offshore Areas Used for Aquaculture). The event, opened by the Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Juan Alberto Corbera Sánchez, and the project director, Ana María Mancho (CSIC-ICMAT - the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT) is a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), served to showcase pioneering tools designed to protect the aquaculture sector from microalgae blooms and polluting spills.
Opening of the conference by Ana María Mancho (Scientific Researcher at ICMAT-CSIC and director of the SIRENA Project) and Juan Alberto Corbera Sánchez (Vice-Rector for Research at the ULPGC).
Three pillars for a robust early warning system
During the conference, experts detailed how SIRENA has integrated three critical sources of information to create a technological shield in the ocean:
Advanced Satellite Surveillance: The qualitative leap following the launch of the Sentinel-1C satellite in September 2024 was highlighted. Its entry into operation in January 2025, together with Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-2, has made it possible to analyse 230 satellite scenes per year. This frequency has been key to detecting actual episodes of Trichodesmium cyanobacterial blooms identified south of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura between October and November last year.
Another moment from the opening of the conference, led by Ana María Mancho (Scientific Researcher at ICMAT-CSIC and Director of the SIRENA Project) and Juan Alberto Corbera Sánchez (Vice-Rector for Research at the ULPGC).
High-resolution modelling: Dr Ana María Mancho (CSIC-ICMAT) presented advances in dynamic modelling focused on farms in the south of Gran Canaria. These models, fed with data from Puertos del Estado and atmospheric variables (ERA5), are capable of accurately simulating the evolution of environmental variables and also pollutant discharges, providing a vital tool for rapid decision-making in emergencies.
Oceanographic Validation: Ángel Rodríguez Santana, researcher and director of the Physical Oceanography and Applied Geophysics Research Group (OFYGA) at the ECOAQUA University Institute of the ULPGC, presented the conclusions of the 10 campaigns carried out in 2025. The data collected in situ revealed discrepancies with standard models, especially in the representation of the ‘wake’ that the island generates in the marine flow. According to Rodríguez Santana, ‘the current model does not adequately reproduce the extent of the wake or the vertical mixing processes,’ which makes the use of the technology developed at SIRENA interesting and necessary.
Presentation of the results of the SIRENA Project by Ana María Mancho (Scientific Researcher at ICMAT-CSIC and Director of the SIRENA Project).
Science with generational renewal and transfer to the sector
A highlight was the panel ‘How we work at SIRENA’, where young researchers Jacob Stefan Torres, Alejandro García Mendoza, Giovanny Alejandro Cuervo (ECOAQUA-ULPGC) and Luis Yubero (CSIC-ICMAT) explained the different techniques used to develop the prediction model. This section highlighted the high level of qualification and generational renewal that the project has fostered in the archipelago.
Panel of experts with the principal investigators of the SIRENA Project. From left to right, Ana María Mancho (Research Scientist at ICMAT-CSIC), Ángel Rodríguez Santana (Professor at ULPGC and expert in Physical Oceanography, director of the OFYGA group at ECOAQUA) and Antonio Juan González Ramos (Professor at ULPGC and expert in Remote Sensing). The panel was moderated by Montserrat Gimeno Ortiz, manager of the Gran Canaria Coastal Action Group.
The transfer of this knowledge to the business community was led by Javier Ojeda, manager of the Spanish Aquaculture Business Association (APROMAR), who presented the UNE 173202 standard. Ojeda stressed that SIRENA's technology is crucial for companies to comply with these new standards of resilience to climate events.
Territorial cooperation and a sustainable future
The project was contextualised within a broader R&D&I ecosystem with presentations by:
- Montserrat Gimeno (Gran Canaria Coastal Action Group), providing context for the SIRENA Project.
- Marianna Venuleo (Canary Islands Institute of Technology), who presented the Acuiconecta initiative for cooperation in the Atlantic.
- Marisol Izquierdo (ECOAQUA University Institute), who reaffirmed the Canary Islands' international leadership in marine sciences.
Ana María Mancho, Research Scientist at ICMAT-CSIC and Director of the SIRENA Project.
The day concluded with the screening of a summary video presented by the project manager, Adrianna Tryskuc, and a technical visit to the facilities to observe the technological capabilities that support these results.
About the SIRENA Project
The SIRENA project seeks to mitigate the risks arising from harmful marine events in aquaculture areas through a comprehensive observation and prediction system. It is part of a commitment to R&D&I to ensure environmental quality and food safety in the marine environment.
The project, led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) through the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT) and ECOAQUA-ULPGC, has the collaboration of the Gran Canaria Coastal Action Group.
The SIRENA project is being developed in collaboration with the Biodiversity Foundation, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, through the Pleamar Programme, and is co-financed by the European Union through the EMFF (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund).
More information on the official website, within the Pleamar Programme: https://www.programapleamar.es/proyectos/sirena-sistema-remoto-integral-de-monitorizacion-deteccion-y-prediccion-de-riesgos-de
ANNEX.- Key points of the SIRENA Project
- Technological Innovation: Pioneering integration of satellite remote sensing (specifically the new Sentinel-1C satellite), high-resolution mathematical models and oceanographic data collected in situ.
- Early Detection: Proven ability to identify threats in real time, such as microalgae blooms (Trichodesmium), and accurately predict the drift of polluting spills.
- Optimisation of Ocean Models: The study reveals that current models must evolve to capture complex local phenomena such as transition zones between the ‘wakes’ of islands and the surrounding ocean, a determining factor for the safety of aquaculture farms.
- Direct Transfer to the Sector: The technology developed enables companies to comply with APROMAR's new UNE 173202 standard, reinforcing the safety and resilience of the sector.
- Talent and Future: Commitment to generational renewal with the participation of young researchers from the ULPGC and the CSIC, positioning the Canary Islands as a benchmark in international marine science.
- Impact on the Blue Economy: Strategic tools that can be exported to other oceanic regions to ensure sustainability and food security.
*Text prepared by the SIRENA Project communication team.
*Photo credit: Ernesto R. Ageitos.