Fuerteventura’s Biosphere Reserve will have a dedicated stand showcasing the natural resources of its marine area. It will be present at the 29th edition of the International Big Game Fishing Open in Gran Tarajal, which this year is held as the inaugural memorial for Carmelo Rodríguez Torres, organised by the Faro de la Entallada Fishing Club. Fuerteventura’s Biosphere Reserve at the Gran Tarajal Fishing Open
In this way, the Biosphere Reserve promotes sustainable activities at sea, as well as the development of good practices for nautical activities in its marine area.
The fact that the big game fishing championship has transitioned to the Catch and Release category, alongside its organisers’ commitment to good practices, will be significantly supported by the presence of the Biosphere Reserve and the Blue Economy sector. This will be showcased through a mixed stand featuring traditional elements such as scaled models of emblematic fish, as well as informative panels on marine natural resources, plastic pollution, and sustainable blue economy opportunities. The display will also include virtual dives using 3D glasses as a technological outreach tool.
The sea, beaches, and marine environments surrounding Fuerteventura fall within the Biosphere Reserve’s marine area, encompassing an area of 175,436 hectares, the largest in the archipelago. Its biodiversity and wealth are extraordinary, frequented by four of the six species of sea turtles and 32 species of cetaceans, including resident grey pilot whales, along with numerous seabirds. The sea beds, featuring seagrass meadows, algae, and corals, serve as nurseries and refuges for a wide variety of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. Sustainable resource exploitation and sporting practices must be compatible with conservation efforts.
Marlene Figueroa, councillor for Tourism, Blue Economy, and the Biosphere Reserve, emphasised the importance of finding sustainable ways to use the sea and coast, developing compatible activities as demonstrated by fishing professionals, who are removing non-selective fishing gear—a prime example in the archipelago. The sea, which has been the economic engine for our fishing communities and their people, now sustains other tourism-related activities and must be nurtured to preserve its wealth. We must be aware of its fragility in the face of climate change, rising sea levels, acidification, and biodiversity loss, and everyone should contribute to its conservation. This exhibition is part of the effort by the Biosphere Reserve and the Blue Economy department to contribute to this goal.
Fuerteventura’s Biosphere Reserve at the Gran Tarajal Fishing Open
