Wife and I heading to Corralejo on 10th February for 7days, our first visit to Corralejo so any tips/advice on where to go etc would be nice. Mrs enjoys naked sunbathing with a good book but I enjoy a naked walk if possible.

Noticias:

The capital's urban growth is threatened by the implementation of renewables.

Puerto del Rosario asks to suspend the authorization given, exceptionally, to several wind and photovoltaic farms


The Ordinary Plenary Session of the City Council of Puerto del Rosario approved, unanimously, the institutional motion with the aim of urging the Government of the Canary Islands to suspend the approval and implementation of photovoltaic and/or wind farms in the municipality, through the application of the exceptional procedure of art. 6 bis of Law 11/1997 on the Regulation of the Canary Islands Electricity Sector.



The motion arises as a result of the agenda of the Government Council of the Canary Islands, which contemplates the approval of several photovoltaic plant projects in Puerto del Rosario.



Among the projects affected are the Las Cabras Photovoltaic Solar Park, the Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Fuerteventura Solar I and II, and the Blanca Solar Photovoltaic Plant, all of them adding a capacity of several megawatts.



If you want to receive this and all the FREE information about Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands punctually through our WhatsApp channel, which is not a chat and you cannot send or receive comments, only information and videos of the island, sign up for the new Fuerteventura News channel.


The mayor of the capital, David de Vera, expressed "his deep concern about the possible unjustified displacement of municipal and island competences, contradictions with the legislation on land and protected natural areas, as well as the imposition of modifying urban planning, affecting the territorial and urban model".



In addition, he highlighted the concern about the location of the projects, particularly in areas of strategic territorial protection for the urban development of the municipality, which could negatively affect the planned urban growth model.



Ordinance regulating parks and green areas


In the same plenary session, the Municipal Ordinance Regulating the parks and green areas of the City of Puerto del Rosario was initially approved, which has as its main objective the regulation of the use and enjoyment of municipal parks and green areas to preserve said public space as a place of coexistence and civility.




Once initially approved, the text of the ordinance will be made available to the public for a minimum period of 30 working days, so that interested parties can submit the claims and suggestions they deem appropriate.



If no claim or suggestion is submitted, the agreement will be deemed to have been definitively adopted.


Another of the issues to be discussed in the Plenary was the modification of the Tax Ordinance regulating the canon for building use on rustic land. The proposal seeks to adapt the municipal regulations to the regional legislation in force in the Canary Islands, establishing a new percentage for the canon, setting 5% for residential uses and 8% for industrial uses on rustic land.



The amendment also contemplates allocating the revenues of the canon to public protection housing, environmental conservation, public works, and other purposes of social interest.


Once the proposal has been approved by the majority of the Plenary, it will enter into force after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Province.

Tamara - I thought I posted a thread about the new proposals during the last few weeks but I can't find it. If anyone spots it please let me know so I can link the 2 posts, thanks.

Radio Sintonia:

A disoriented angelshark rescued in the marina of Castillo-Caleta de Fuste.

The SEPRONA of Fuerteventura recovered, on the 16th, an angelshark that was hitting the stones of the marina of Castillo-Caleta de Fuste, the animal was disoriented, but without visible injury, in the municipality of Antigua.



The Civil Guard required the help of professional fishermen, managing to remove the specimen from the dock in apparently good conditions with proper handling and following the guide of good practices. All this, despite the difficulty presented by the obstacles of the marina, such as pontoons and poor visibility, as the Events occurred at night.

For all these reasons, the wildlife collection service (Gesplan) and the Environment agents of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura are informed of the finding, for their knowledge and to ensure fluid coordination between the institutions involved in the conservation of safeguarding the future of the Angelshark that is in critical danger.

The intervention had the collaboration of two professional fishermen and the security guard of the port facility.

It is a protected animal, which is listed as Critically Endangered in the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is also currently included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection and in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species as "in danger of extinction"

link to article for pic

Noticias:

The Canary Islands Underwater Photography Championship is held this year in Caleta de Fuste.

The Mayor, Matías Peña and the Councillor for Tourism, Kristina Rodewig, present at FITUR the celebration of the event from 20 to 23 June


The International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2024, in its working days with presentations, sectoral meetings and interviews detailing objectives and new proposals, is proving very positive to highlight the Municipality of Antigua, says the mayor, Matías Peña, as a tourist destination with many attractions to enjoy and highlight, especially pointing out the accommodation, restaurant and comfort offer of the tourist town, Caleta de Fuste.



The mayor highlights the unity and common work of all the municipalities in the aim of highlighting Fuerteventura, and in this sense, congratulates the work carried out by the president, Lola García and the Councilor for Tourism, Marlene Figueroa, in achieving the same objective and the same step to all municipalities equally.



The Councilor for Tourism, Kristina Rodewig announces and presents in Madrid, the celebration of the prestigious Cafosub, the Canary Islands Underwater Photography Championship, which will be held in Caleta de Fuste from June 20 to 23 this year.



Caleta de Fuste is once again the host venue for the celebration of regional, national and international Championships in which hundreds of professionals and amateurs participate who, together with their families or team, preferentially choose the town or municipality to stay and rest, adds Councilor Rodewig.



The Canary Islands Underwater Photography Championship will have the participation of registered couples from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and of course, Fuerteventura, highlighting the participation of the current champions of Spain and runners-up of the world in different categories, Yeray Delgado Dorta and Abigail Martín Hernández.

Radio Sintonia:

A man investigated in Fuerteventura as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of fishing a protected species, angelshark or angel shark.

On January 11, 2024, the SEPRONA of Fuerteventura investigated a 37-year-old person for a crime of fishing and capture of a threatened species; specifically, for the fishing of an angelshark shark and causing a perforating injury with active bleeding and dying shortly after, in the municipality of La Oliva (Las Palmas)



Knowledge of the facts

The Civil Guard of the Main Post of Corralejo became aware of the facts on December 31, 2023, which is why the proceedings are transferred to SEPRONA and the appropriate investigation is initiated, as well as taking statements from witnesses that allow the identity of the alleged perpetrator to be known, being a male Italian nationality and resident on the island of Lanzarote.

Development of the facts

The Events occurred on December 31, 2023, when the aforementioned man entered the water with a spearfishing rifle and captured a specimen of angelshark shark, after sticking the harpoon in its head. The Events occurred on the beach of Jablito, La Oliva (Las Palmas) and the specimen of Squatina squatina was transferred to the Wildlife Recovery Center of the Biological Station of La Oliva, presenting a perforating lesion with active hemorrhage and dying shortly after.

It is a protected animal, which is listed as Critically Endangered in the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is also currently included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection and in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species as "in danger of extinction".

It is worth highlighting the collaboration of SEPRONA of the Civil Guard of Timanfaya (Lanzarote) and citizens present at the site.

link to article for stock pic

Diario:

Fuerteventura rehabilitates hundreds of gavias, dams to retain water.

The objective of the Island Hydrological Plan with this type of works is to increase the infiltration of rainfall into the aquifer and improve the quality of the groundwater masses

The rains arrived on the island in the final stretch of 2023, however, the feeling of the Majorero population was that most of the rainwater "went to the sea", despite the fact that some ponds and gavias were flooded. From Diario de Fuerteventura we analyze this phenomenon and we see that it is not as true as it seems.

Certainly, it has been observed that, after the rains, a lot of water is directed towards the sea as in the rest of the continent, but we can see that in Fuerteventura firm steps are being taken to alleviate desertification and retain rainwater, in ponds and rainfed dams that have a persistent drought.

The Insular Water Council reports that the Insular Hydrological Plan has contemplated, for several years, works on rainfed dams of different sizes, given that there are more than a thousand on the island. Most of them have a capacity of between 75,000 and 10,000 cubic meters, although there are dams of up to one million cubic meters. The Council has to comply with the environmental objectives set out in the Management Plan in accordance with the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

For years, Fuerteventura has been pursuing not only that surface water, when it rains, stays in the territory, in greater quantity and for as long as possible through systems of gavias and ponds, but also a second consequence derived from this action: increasing infiltration into the aquifer. "If water is injected, it contributes to improving the quality of groundwater bodies," sums up the manager of the Insular Water Council, Domingo Montañez.

The Fuerteventura Hydrological Plan reflects that groundwater bodies have "poor quality", among other reasons due to the risk of nitrate contamination and high salinity. "What we try to do is to keep rainwater on the ground for as long as possible so that it can infiltrate, take advantage of it through ponds or reservoirs and prevent it from going into the sea." This phenomenon is linked to another problem, such as the loss of territory due to soil erosion.

"The priority is to act in those areas that intercept the natural drainage network, that is, in those dry dams of loose materials that are intercepting public or private channels of great magnitude to recover them because some have a life of more than 40 years and have become terrified, reducing their storage capacity and desired function," sums up the manager of the Insular Water Council.

For this reason, the Cabildo undertakes works to clean the ponds, but they were carried out in the past without following the technical criteria. There is now a regulation that states that essential issues, such as safety and drainage capacity, must be addressed. Many of these dam slopes do not meet the technical conditions and are also being reinforced. In terms of their drainage capacity, many dams do not have the flood flow required by law. The objectives are to recover the initial reservoir capacity, improve its safety and drainage conditions in order to enhance its functionality.

The Hydrological Plan proposes rationing and sustainable management of water resources. "We carry out studies and act according to the flow rate so that the investment is in line with reality," says the manager. The Insular Water Council also acts in the feeding of the system of traditional gavias that allow the accumulation of more than 300 cubic meters of liquid element.

Steps are being taken to mitigate desertification and retain rainwater

The latest works carried out by the Insular Water Council have been carried out in dry dams in Tarajalejo and another two in the Barranco de Cardón, with a capacity of about 50,000 cubic metres, which have been cleaned for reuse. Another one that has overflowed in recent years after the rains and that has recently been renovated is located in the Barranco de la Muley, within the municipality of Puerto del Rosario.

Another objective of these actions is the use of rainwater for the agricultural sector. To receive supply from these dams, a permit from the Insular Water Council is needed because they are works in the public hydraulic domain and to be able to use it authorization for irrigation is required, but the reservoir water could be captured directly through a pipe. However, the indirect benefit of improving groundwater quality has been observed. "Curiously, when it rains, the water table levels of the wells (shallow, between nine and 30 meters) that are in the vicinity of these rainfed dams rise, since the wells are fed by the filtering dams and recharged from the aquifer in the area."

Island Hydrological Plan

For his part, the island councillor for Waters of Fuerteventura, Adargoma Hernández, announces that an attempt will be made to definitively approve the third cycle of the Fuerteventura Hydrological Plan at the end of the first quarter of 2024. An essential document for the use and conservation of water in Fuerteventura, which includes a series of actions that will increase the flow for the activity of the primary sector and recover the cultivation area that existed in Fuerteventura. "It includes actions to act on riverbeds, reservoirs and other exploitation systems."

He then reiterates that "the Cabildo and the Insular Water Council carry out work for the arrangement of the systems for the use of surface waters on the island". Hernández points out that "in Fuerteventura there are more than 1,100 catchments between ponds, marshes and dams, covering an area of more than 3.2 million square metres, which translates into more than 330 hectares".

Hernández details that these tasks are carried out in cooperation with the area of Works and Machinery of the Cabildo, for the cleaning and optimization of the different systems that are distributed throughout the island territory, "giving preference to those that are located on land of public hydraulic domain or that intercept the territorial drainage network". In this way, the aim is to "recover its reservoir capacity, both for rainwater harvesting and for aquifer recharge," he insists.

Las Peñitas Dam

One of the historical works of the State is the Las Peñitas dam, built during the Franco era. A very characteristic reservoir in Fuerteventura for its materials, its trachyte masonry wall, in the central ravine of the island.

The reform project proposed by the Island Water Council includes an intermediate action between the maintenance of the ecosystem of flora and fauna and capturing groundwater with a work of emptying part of the sludge that has completely covered the dam, which is abandoned and currently unused. An initial project of more than three million euros in three phases, which is at a standstill. To put the dam into operation, the channel would be narrowed, the reeds and invasive flora would be eliminated and part of the protected tamarisk trees would be transplanted to another area. An unknown work that has many detractors.

Los Molinos Dam

For its part, the Los Molinos dam always has water and has never overflowed. With a capacity for two million cubic meters of water, it must be cleaned because it has a lot of water in the reservoir, it has springs that drain into the dam and are saline so they spoil the quality of the water in the dam. It also has a small volume of water, it is also open and what it collects evaporates quickly, but it is a very attractive and visited wetland.

The dam once fed the rural town of Las Parcelas, which was built with a network of water pipes surrounding the houses, built between gavias that were cultivated in the 1960s, and generated a flourishing agricultural activity in the area.

Radio Sintonia:

Clean-up shock plan in the municipality of Puerto del Rosario.

The City Council of Puerto del Rosario, through the departments of Social Services and Local Development, has launched a cleaning shock plan in all the towns and neighborhoods of the municipality that will be developed over the next few months with personnel from both departments.



Tons of rubbish and debris have already been removed in the first weeks from plots and public roads by workers and municipal machinery and actions are being carried out, such as the collection of abandoned belongings and the removal and subsequent repainting of illegal graffiti.

These actions will be complemented by the placement of posters to inform citizens of the possible penalties in case of non-compliance with municipal regulations.

The mayor, David de Vera, said that "one of the main goals set by this Government Group in the first year of the legislature is the improvement of the cleanliness of the municipality, so this shock plan, which will later be accompanied by monitoring and maintenance in the areas of action, will be essential to achieve this important objective".

For their part, Erica González and David de León, councilors for Local Development and Municipal Services, respectively, said that "the enormous effort being developed by the staff of this cleaning plan, would not make any sense without the subsequent citizen collaboration to maintain public spaces and plots in the best possible conditions". The capital's City Council calls on residents to go hand in hand and thus achieve a better municipality.

Noticias:

The Board of Trustees incorporates influencers to promote the island with actions on networks aimed at new tourist profiles.

Marlene Figueroa points out that all promotional actions are being coordinated to position the destination in different ways without losing coherence or efficiency


The Tourist Board incorporates a team of influencers to the promotion of Fuerteventura, who will develop a campaign focused on attracting profiles of potential tourists who are not usually reached with conventional promotion. This formula, which will be complemented by others already underway, aims to amplify a differentiated and unique image of the island among thousands of followers and Internet users with a dynamic and modern approach.



On April 20, a multi-experiential journey begins that will be commanded by the well-known international traveler @rashadboleh who has 1 million followers on Instagram and from Germany projects and disseminates in Europe, in English and German, messages about the attractions of Fuerteventura as a tourist destination; and by the Spanish and European paddle surf champion @guillermocarracedo who has 200,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 4 million on TikTok with whom he interacts daily and who will concentrate his promotion in Spain and non-German speaking European countries.



The Minister of Tourism, Marlene Figueroa, has pointed out that this action is added to many others that are being launched with the aim of positioning the destination in different ways, adapting to the changes and the new tourist profiles that are appearing, revaluing the destination Fuerteventura and above all differentiating it from our competitors for its quality and uniqueness. An island of emotions where we invite you to come and experience them.



The promotional campaign contracted to kike_riasbaixas is structured in three parts. From this week and coinciding with the celebration of FITUR, the influencers will present the destination Fuerteventura to their followers and announce the trip they plan to make to Fuerteventura, incorporating explanatory videos.



Subsequently, from April 1, a campaign will begin on networks where different challenges and contests will be held promoting Fuerteventura with the aim of generating expectations and disseminating information about the products and resources of the destination, in a language and expressiveness according to its audiences and followers.



On April 20 and for twelve days the influencers will travel to the island and will share "Stories" on Instagram, videos on TikTok, showing the tourist products, landscapes and interacting with the people who make up the Fuerteventura destination, becoming reference material for future travelers.



After the visit in the field, the influencers will publish "Reels" about experiences and emotions lived in some of the most spectacular places on the island, inviting you to come and meet them, to live the experience with responsibility and respect for the environment.



The objectives of this campaign, Marlene Figueroa pointed out, are to promote Fuerteventura among some very specific tourist segments, using the popularity and reach of influencers of recognized prestige, who will show the world the beauty and uniqueness of the island of Fuerteventura, projecting it among potential tourists who are not reached through conventional promotion. and in any case, obtaining more projection of the island both nationally and internationally.



Special emphasis will be placed on some of the unique elements that make the destination Fuerteventura a special place, differentiated from its competitors, disseminating on networks for example the enormous possibilities for the practice of water sports, especially Paddle Surf and Snorkeling. And it will be done by the hand of the 5 times Spanish Paddle Surf Champion and European Champion.



In the same way, the oils, wines and cheeses of Fuerteventura will also be promoted, highlighting their quality, as well as other traditional products of the island, its protected parks, beaches and most representative volcanoes. In short, this initiative aims to contribute to giving visibility to the island of Fuerteventura in non-traditional segments, both outside Spanish borders and among national tourists.

Radio Sintonia:

A Primera Hora, an interview with Aurora Jiménez, a technician from Cáritas Diocesana in the Canary Islands, who points out that in Puerto del Rosario there are currently 20 people sleeping on the street in Puerto del Rosario. It is mostly seen in men over the age of 40.

On the other hand, the technician indicates that there are 30 families who need the support of the non-governmental organization to make ends meet because with their salaries they cannot meet all the monthly expenses.

Tamara: this is an interview on the radio, you can listen to the full interview through the link:

link to article and interview (in Spanish)

Noticias:

The year 212 Atlantic Puffins died in Fuerteventura.

The Cabildo attends to more than 840 specimens of injured wildlife in 2023



NEWSROOMFUERTEVENTURA


Although everything points to the storms that occurred in the normal breeding area of these birds, which caused them to move them south and fall from exhaustion when they arrived on the islands, it is still not known for sure what was the reason for the high mortality of Atlantic Puffins in the Canary Islands this past 2023.



In this sense and on the other side of the coin, the friendlier, more than840 specimens of injured fauna have been cared for in 2023 by the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, a record figure in the number of attentions to various local species compared to recent years. This represents an increase in citizen collaboration, as well as better coordination with the different island administrations.



In total, 442 injured specimens were taken to the La Oliva Biological Station, for care at the Wildlife Recovery Center and subsequent release. Most of the birds of different types have been recorded, with the entry of 406 specimens of more than forty different species, the Cory's shearwater being the most numerous, followed by the yellow-legged gull and, at a greater distance, the common kestrel and Atlantic puffin.



In addition, 26 loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta) were received, which, after the first interventions, were later transferred to the Sea Turtle Recovery and Conservation Center located in Morro Jable.



The work of the veterinarians and caretakers of this enclosure is to provide food, shelter and medical care to injured, sick or orphaned animals in order to rehabilitate them and return them to their natural environment. Likewise, the placement of GPS devices on turtles and identification rings on birds for their monitoring is implemented.



According to data collected by technicians and operators of the Environment, the main causes of admission are traffic accidents or collisions on the road, collisions on power lines and malnutrition.



In addition, 402 specimens of injured fauna were admitted lifeless to the Recovery Center. Studies were carried out to help with the conservation of the species, such as necropsies, biometric data collection and collection of biological samples. This work is carried out in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the ULPGC and the University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA).

Among the species found dead, birds stand out, with 354 specimens, including 212 Atlantic puffins and 41 cinnamon shelducks, as well as ten cetaceans, among which three common dolphins, a pilot whale, two pygmy sperm whales, two striped dolphins, two Atlantic spotted dolphins and three Cuvier's beaked whales have been found.



The Minister of the Environment, Carlos Rodríguez, highlights the relevance of this work in the conservation of local biodiversity. In addition, it underlines the importance of citizen collaboration in the protection of wildlife, as well as the need to work together to preserve the natural wealth of Fuerteventura. In this sense, La Oliva has registered the highest number of fauna specimens with 167 animals injured or injured for their recovery. It is followed by Puerto del Rosario with 124 and Pájara with 86. In the case of Antigua, Tuineje and Betancuria, 37, 20 and 5 specimens were made available to the centre, respectively.

link to article for pic