The data will allow for the generation of high-resolution climate scenarios for the year 2050 and the definition of adaptation measures against coastal erosion and flooding.
The Department of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, led by Mariano H. Zapata, has conducted a measurement campaign along the coastal front between the port of Puerto del Rosario and the Las Salinas industrial area in Fuerteventura. The aim is to assess the depth, underwater relief, and composition of the seabed to plan adaptation measures in light of rising sea levels and coastal erosion. The budget for analysing these six areas across the Canary Islands amounts to €111,300, while the overall investment for the encompassing project, ADAPTACOST6, totals €2,317,300.
This initiative in Fuerteventura has allowed for the creation of detailed underwater mapping over an area of 3.7 million square metres, with a resolution of 0.25 metres, as well as the collection of sediment samples to ascertain the texture and characteristics of the substrate.
Mariano H. Zapata, the Minister for Ecological Transition and Energy, emphasised that “Puerto del Rosario is a strategic yet vulnerable location in the face of climate change, as critical infrastructure such as the thermal power station and the desalination plant coincide here with residential areas like the El Charco neighbourhood.” He noted that “having high-precision scientific information enables us to anticipate risks, reduce uncertainties, and design effective adaptation solutions that ensure the safety of the population and essential services in the coming decades.”
Zapata also pointed out that, with the data obtained, “high-resolution climate scenarios for the year 2050 will be developed, allowing for the simulation of various flooding and erosion situations, which serves as the basis for prioritising and sizing adaptation measures within the Canary Islands’ coastal resilience strategy.”
The work has been carried out by the company ECOS, Environmental Studies and Oceanography S.L., contracted by TRAGSATEC, the entity responsible for coordinating the ADAPTACOST6 project. Field campaigns took place between June and August 2025, employing multibeam sonar, inertial navigation, and motion compensation techniques to ensure the accuracy of the results.
The Puerto del Rosario study is part of the ADAPTACOST6 project, which covers a total of six coastal areas across the Canary Islands, including Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote.
