22/05/2026
Under the theme ‘Outermost regions and the sea’, this event is a key regional gathering for the nautical and maritime sector in the Canary Islands.
The ECOAQUA University Institute, part of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), is once again playing a key role in one of the most important events in the Canary Islands relating to the sea, the FIMAR 2026 International Sea Fair, which will take place from Friday 22 May and Sunday 24 May, at the Sanapú quay in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, near the Poema del Mar aquarium and the Onda Atlántica walkway.
To this end, in addition to its now traditional stand, the university institute will offer, through its researchers, 13 of the 26 free public talks scheduled as part of the 15th edition of this major event – a figure that is almost double the number given last year, when it delivered a total of seven.
The fair is sponsored by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council and the Port Authority of Las Palmas, and organised by Infecar Feria de Gran Canaria and Ciudad de Mar. Among the fair’s activities is the dissemination of scientific knowledge relating to the marine and maritime environment.
Date: 22, 23 and 24 May 2026.
Venue: Muelle Sanapú, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Organisers: INFECAR and Ciudad de Mar, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council.
In collaboration with: Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, Las Palmas Port Authority.
Participating research groups: EOMAR, OFYGA, GIA, BIOCON, TOTMA.
29/01/2026
On 29 January 2026, the results of the SIRENA Project will be presented at the Marine Science and Technology Park (Taliarte) in Gran Canaria. This initiative, developed by researchers from the CSIC-ICMAT and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) through the ECOAQUA University Institute, has provided deeper insight into coastal dynamics and the processes affecting aquaculture in southeastern Gran Canaria.
During the conference, project participants will share results, methodologies and case studies, with a special focus on remote sensing, ocean modelling and international experiences.
In addition, the programme will feature guest experts directly related to the project's objectives, who will provide a complementary perspective from different professional and technical approaches.
The conference is designed as an open space for the exchange of knowledge, joint reflection and connection between science, the productive sector and the territory.
The SIRENA Project aims to develop innovative tools for environmental monitoring of aquaculture farms in Gran Canaria and disseminate them among stakeholders. This initiative is based on three fundamental pillars: remote identification of events using satellites, in situ observations to validate specifically developed models, and mathematical modelling to make predictions validated by these observations. The Canary Islands aquaculture community and other communities will benefit from these advances, which will be disseminated through planned communication actions.
Date: Thursday, 29 January 2026.
Time: From 10:00 to 14:30.
Venue: Multipurpose Room of the ULPGC Marine Science and Technology Park (Taliarte), Carretera de Taliarte s/n, Telde (Gran Canaria).
Participating researchers: Ángel Rodríguez Santana (PI), professor at the ULPGC, expert in oceanography, director of the OFYGA group at ECOAQUA; Marisol Izquierdo López, professor of Zoology at the ULPGC and member of the Aquaculture Research Group (GIA); Ana María Mancho (IP), director of the SIRENA Project, scientific researcher (ICMAT-CSIC), associate researcher at OFYGA; Antonio Juan González Ramos, senior lecturer at the ULPGC, expert in Remote Sensing, member of OFYGA; Jacob Stefan Torres Ojeda, project research staff (ICP), member of OFYGA; Giovanny Alejandro Cuervo Londoño, project research staff (ICP), member of OFYGA; Manuel Alejandro García Mendoza, associate researcher, ULPGC.
Organisation: Gran Canaria Coastal Action Group, ECOAQUA Institute (ULPGC) and ICMAT-CSIC.
Collaboration: Canary Islands Science and Technology Park Foundation of the ULPGC.
Participating research groups: OFYGA and GIA.
You can find all the information about the programme of activities at the following link:
FREE REGISTRATION at the following link:
30/09/2025
Entitled “Towards safer aquaculture: modelling and observation in the SIRENA Project”, the second webinar of the SIRENA Project will be held on 30 September 2025 at 1 p.m. (CET). This online meeting, aimed at professionals in the aquaculture sector, public managers, researchers and the general public, will present the scientific and technological advances developed within the framework of the project, focusing on the use of modelling and marine observation as key tools for strengthening the safety and sustainability of aquaculture.
Within the framework of the Pleamar 2023 Programme, co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), the SIRENA project is organising this second webinar to present the advances made in the study of the interaction between coastal dynamics and aquaculture. During the event, experts from the CSIC, ULPGC and collaborating entities will share results, methodologies and case studies, with a special focus on remote sensing, ocean modelling and international experiences.
Programme:
01:05 p.m.– Comprehensive Remote System for Monitoring, Detection and Prediction of Risks from Potentially Harmful Marine Events of Natural or Anthropogenic Origin. SIRENA Project. Objectives and progress.
By Montserrat Gimeno Ortiz, Manager of the Gran Canaria Coastal Action Group (GAC de Gran Canaria).
01:05 p.m. – Turbulence and insular wakes in a coastal aquaculture area: findings from the SIRENA Project.
By Jacob Stefan Torres Ojeda, project researcher (ICP). University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). Member of the OFYGA group at ECOAQUA.
01:15 p.m. – Mathematics at the service of the sea: from model to reality in aquaculture.
By Luis Yubero Lozoya, Research Support Staff. CSIC, ICMAT.
01:25 p.m.– Monitoring the marine environment: contributions from PLOCAN's observation and recovery line.
By Silvana Neves, head of the marine observation and recovery research line (PLOCAN).
01:45 p.m. – Monitoring marine risks for offshore aquaculture: a view of SIRENA from Chile.
By Alonso Echevarría, director and founder of AEX Group.
02:05 p.m. – Discussion: questions and answers.
02:30 p.m. – End of session.
Date: 30 September 2025.
Venue: online (Zoom).
Organisation: 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).
Participating research groups: OFYGA.
06/06/2025
Under the slogan “The sustainability of the Canarian coastline”, this event is a regional event of reference for the nautical and marine-maritime sector of the Canary Islands, which will take place in the Muelle Sanapú, in the surroundings of the Poema del Mar aquarium and the Pasarela Onda Atlántica, promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Port Authority of Las Palmas and organised by Infecar Feria de Gran Canaria and Ciudad de Mar. Among the fair's activities is the dissemination of scientific information about the marine-maritime environment.
Date: 6th, 7th & 8th June 2025.
Venue: Muelle Sanapú, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Organizers: INFECA y Ciudad de Mar, Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Partners: Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Ayuntamiento de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas.
Participating research group: EOMAR, OFYGA, GIA, BIOCON & TOTMA.
12/12/2024
This workshop will address the issue of marine litter in the Atlantic Ocean. It will discuss the physical and chemical processes, among others, that influence both the transport and accumulation of marine litter in order to try to find solutions.
Date: 12 December 2024.
Venue: Canary Islands Oceanographic Centre , Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Organizer: University of La Laguna, Spanish Institute of Oceanography and University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Research groups and rechearchers:
Anna Cunill i Saez (EOMAR): Talk ‘Impacts of Cigarette Butt Leachates on Palaemon elegans’,
Sofía Huelbes Muñoz (EOMAR): Poster ‘Analyzing the presence of microplastics in Cronius ruber and their possible relationship with wastewater discharges’.
Francisco José Machín Jiménez (OFYGA): Talk ‘Microplastics in the Ocean: Emerging Perspectives in their Observation and Analysis’ and organisation.
29/11/2024
This welcome event for new doctoral students, which brings together students from previous editions and professors, aims to give an insight into the research career through the researchers themselves. This year the theme of the scientific talks is the latest eruption of the volcano on La Palma.
Date and time: 29th November, 8:45h.
Venue: Sala de Grado, Faculty of Marine Sciences, ULPGC.
Researchers:
- Borja Aguiar: ‘Building a flexible career: The PhD is just the beginning, you define your career’, 9:00h.
- Ángel Rodríguez and Antonio Juan González: ‘In situ and remote monitoring of the Tajogaite volcanic eruption’, 12:30h.
Organizer: PhD in Oceanography and Global Change, ULPGC.
Partners: Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME-CSIC), Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN), Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), University of La Laguna (ULL).
Research group: EOMAR and OFYGA.
04/11/2024 06/11/2024
The purpose of this congress is to promote the discussion and analysis of related scientific problems such as physical oceanography, meteorology and climate of the Southeast Pacific. It is a valuable opportunity for national and foreign researchers to strengthen current research, generate new collaborations, and stimulate the participation of undergraduate and postgraduate students in scientific research.
Date: 4 to 6 November 2024.
Venue: Arturo Prat University, Chile.
Organizer: Ocean Atmosphere Dynamics WG (DOCA WG) of the National Oceanographic Committee and the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources of the Arturo Prat University, Chile.
Research group: OFYGA.
Researcher and activities: Ángel Rodríguez Santana.
-Poster ‘Integral remote system for monitoring, detection and prediction of potentially harmful marine events for aquaculture farms’ (Sirena Project): 4, 5 and 6 November.
-Oral communication ‘Submesoscale Symmetric Instabilities in Mesoscale Ocean Eddies’: 4 November, 12:30h - 12:45h.
06/10/2024 11/10/2024
This congress is an important meeting point for the science of optics and research and its applications in relation to the aquatic environment, ranging from biogeochemistry, environmental management and its applications, instruments, techniques and observation systems, remote sensing, phytoplankton ecology, radiative transfer and optical theory to global change and benthic processes.
Date: 6th to 11th October.
Venue: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Conference Centre of the Canary Islands).
Partners: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES), the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Operational Satellite Agency for Monitoring Weather (EUMETSAT), Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences (LOG), Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale (ULCO), Ocean Motion Technologies, Office of Naval Research, Sequoia Scientific, Economic Promotion Agency of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) and the Canarian Science and Technology Park Foundation (FCPCT) of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC).
Participating research groups: BIOCON (Antonio Juan González Ramos and Alejandro García Mendoza) and OFYGA (Marina Gutiérrez-García and Alex Urbaneja).
10/07/2024 12/07/2024
This congress is an important meeting point for researchers and professionals in the field of marine sciences in Spain and Europe. With the aim of disseminating the latest scientific research, the results and conclusions of studies in this sector will be presented. The event, dedicated to the nautical and marine-maritime sector, aims to promote and boost the Blue Economy.
Date: 10, 11 and 12 July.
Venue: Port of Valencia.
Organisers: University of Alicante, University of Barcelona, University of Cadiz, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Catholic University of Valencia and University of Vigo.
Partners: Valencia City Council, Valencia Provincial Council, Valencia Port Authority, University of Barcelona, Catholic University of Valencia.
Research groups: EOMAR and OFYGA.
07/06/2024 09/06/2024
This event, dedicated to the nautical and marine-maritime sector, aims to promote and boost the Blue Economy. The fair's activities include the dissemination of scientific knowledge about the marine-maritime environment.
Date: 7th, 8th and 9th June.
Venue: Sanapú Quay, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Organisers: INFECAR and Ciudad de Mar, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council.
Partners: Gran Canaria Island Council, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, Las Palmas Port Authority.
Research groups: EOMAR, TOTMA, OFYGA and BIOCON.
The University Institute ECOAQUA is a research centre that belongs to the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a public institution that offers a wide range of degrees in all the major areas of knowledge, with the aim of providing comprehensive training to those who come to it, in a commitment based on innovation, quality and internationalisation.