Noticias:

Improvements to one of the most congested roads in Fuerteventura.

The Cabildo carries out road improvement work in the surroundings of Costa Antigua, Caleta de Fuste and Las Salinas del Carmen


The Cabildo de Fuerteventura, through the Ministry of Roads, is carrying out road surface rehabilitation works in the surroundings of Costa de Antigua, Caleta de Fuste and Las Salinas del Carmen. In this sense, Minister Blas Acosta explains that, with these continuous efforts, "the island corporation reiterates its commitment to the constant improvement of Fuerteventura's roads, contributing to safety and efficiency in transport".



On the FV-2 road, specifically in the section between the roundabout at the entrance to the industrial area of Costa de Antigua to Las Salinas del Carmen, the drainage ditch on the left bank of the road is being widened. This phase of the project involves the pouring of HM-20 mass concrete to strengthen the road infrastructure.



In the coming weeks, the asphalting of the road and the roundabout access to the industrial area of Costa de Antigua will also be carried out, with the forecast of concluding these works by the end of January or beginning of February. Likewise, work will begin to execute the underground drainage network in the surroundings of Caleta de Fuste, complementing the restitution of the existing ditch and the reinforcement of the curb.



In addition, as a complement to these works, a technical proposal is being developed to improve the connection junction of this area with the FV-2 road, with the aim of increasing the flow of traffic and reducing congestion, especially in certain time slots.



On the FV-20 road, work will resume next week on the surface rehabilitation of the road surface, which covers the section from Cuesta Pedrales to Tiscamanita. These works will include the installation of containment systems on the margins of the road, followed by the placement of new vertical signage that will improve orientation and destination in the surroundings of Agua de Bueyes and Tiscamanita.

Noticias:

Antigua recovers the natural source of the Tacha Blanca area.

The use of this space dates back to before the year 1600 in public records



NEWSROOMFUERTEVENTURA


Antigua from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries recovers the natural source of the Tacha Blanca picnic area, which dates in the public records from before the year 1600. In this sense, the improvement of stone walls, conditioning of the pond, cleaning of the picnic area, are some of the actions carried out in Tacha Blanca, along with the recovery of the Natural Fountain.



One of the landmarks in the history of the Municipality of Antigua and the island of Fuerteventura is Tacha Blanca as a rest area today for hikers, neighbours and school excursions, and since ancient times, also as a watering hole for animals, being the protagonist of this privileged corner, its natural source, explains the mayor, Matías Peña, who invites everyone to visit this space. whose use and exploitation dates back to before the year 1,600.



The Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the City of Antigua has promoted a recovery action coordinated by the councilor, Fernando Estupiñán.

The objective has been to recover and beautify this space, as well as to rescue the Natural Fountain by facilitating the return to emanate the water that the animals need, and adds the councilor, also used and collected in the pond of this public space that can be enjoyed by groups of friends or family of its barbecue area, its cobbled walls of rest and its views and a unique environment.



Almond, fig or carob trees are found in its forest, in addition to the presence of hoopoes, pigeons, crows, partridges, eagles or rabbits, among some of the wild species.

link to article for great pics!

Noticias:

"We have the challenge and the goal of decarbonising the islands by 2040".

Ecological Transition leads the first Offshore Wind Energy Roundtable in the Canary Islands to advance its implementation in the archipelago



NEWSROOMFUERTEVENTURA


The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands leads the first Offshore Wind Energy Roundtable on the islands, in a meeting that was attended by the Minister, Mariano H. Zapata and the Deputy Minister, Julieta Schallenberg, together with the different representatives and agents of the entities related to this sector.



The Minister, Mariano H. Zapata, thanked all the attendees for their commitment to prepare this first coordination meeting and move forward with the implementation of offshore wind energy so that "the Canary Islands are pioneers in this sector, working hand in hand with all those involved". "We have the goal and the challenge of decarbonising the islands by 2040 and that can only happen by working tirelessly to advance in the penetration of renewables, using all the resources and tools at our disposal," said the minister.



In this sense, Zapata also pointed out that "in addition to working hard to perfectly combine environmental protection with the present and future development of the Canary Islands in its decarbonisation, we must also see here an opportunity for diversification and economic wealth for sectors that must coexist, such as tourism and fishing". All this, he pointed out, "on islands where wind potential is important and in a time frame in which green energies are more important than ever".



Likewise, during this first roundtable-forum, Zapata and his team highlighted to the attendees the firm commitment of the Ministry to advance in this penetration of renewables, emphasizing that a first meeting of the Renewable Energy Table of the Canary Islands had already been led last November. According to the Minister of the area, "it had the involvement and support of the main renewable energy associations in the sector, the Canary Islands Association of Renewable Energies (ACER) and the Canary Islands Wind Association (AEOLICAN), as well as representatives of Endesa and Red Eléctrica, for which we are very satisfied, as it shows the interest and commitment of everyone to achieve these objectives".



This first meeting was attended by representatives of the Delegation of the Government of Spain in the Canary Islands, the port authorities and maritime captaincies of both provinces, the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands, the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC) and the Wind Energy Business Association (AEE). In addition, on behalf of the Government of the Canary Islands, representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Commerce, Industry and Self-Employed Persons attended; Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water; Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty, Tourism and Employment; as well as Public Works, Housing and Mobility, where the General Directorate of Coasts is located.

Noticias:

The La Luna apartments in Caleta de Fuste to become a 4-star hotel.

From now on it will be called the Arena Castillo hotel after an investment of 4.8 million euros


The II Tourism Modernization Plan of Caleta de Fuste, PMMIC, which we managed to approve two years ago, allows the gradual and constant modernization of the tourist services offered in the town, improving quantitatively and qualitatively, as is the case of this Agreement definitively approved between the City of Antigua and the La Luna Apartment complex. which, with an investment of 4.8 million euros, will increase the 4-star Hotel Arena Castillo from category 2 Keys.



This Agreement adds to the progressive requalification and modernization of Caleta de Fuste, says the Councilor for Urban Planning, David Alberto Guerra, in the tourist standards required to confirm the town as a top quality international destination, and adds the councilor, improving the accommodation offer, expanding the leisure and restaurant areas for the benefit of all the residents of the town, the Municipality and the island.

The final approval of the Urban Agreement between the City Council of Antigua and the owners of the La Luna Apartment complex has been published and can be consulted in the BOP Las Palmas No.7 dated this Monday, January 15.

link to article for pic

Attached are the monthly dates for the Tetir market:

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Noticias:

Climate change is already modifying marine ecosystems in the Canary Islands.

Biologist Alejandro de Vera warns of its effect on the seabed, algae, island moss, plankton, corals and other flora


Climate change acts differently in the sea and in the territory, but it acts and will continue to do so in an increasing way, although human beings can slow down its current pace. Its effects on the coasts of the Canary Islands have been appreciated for some time, ecosystems are noticing it, everything points to considerable modifications and scientists such as Alejandro de Vera, PhD in Marine Biology from the ULL and curator in this area of the Museum of Nature and Archaeology of Tenerife, explains it every time he has the opportunity, he explains to Álvaro Morales in DIARIO DE AVISOS.



As it is a liquid medium, and apart from the increase in temperatures, climate change is also affecting the sea due to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) as it dissolves, which generates a decrease in pH (acidification).



The rise in temperature in recent decades is causing fauna and flora to rise from warmer areas, while other species that used to live here at its limit are moving away from the Canary Islands, but now cannot cope with this increase in degrees. "There is a change in the distribution of species that is noticeable on a large scale (macrobiology) with fish, corals and others, but we also notice it in microbiology, especially with plankton, very small beings," he explains to DIARIO DE AVISOS.

The MUNA has samples of plankton from the Canary Islands dating back to 1987-88 and has a line of research on the effects of climate change. According to De Vera, "at that time some tropical species appeared in the studies from time to time, but now, especially on the islands with warmer waters (El Hierro and La Palma), if trawls are made to achieve sampling, much higher concentrations appear, something that is happening with molluscs" (his specialty).



According to him, the change in the marine ecosystems of the Canary Islands coast has been evident for years. "Tropical species are arriving that, in some cases, are invasive, especially if they don't run into predators and the conditions are more beneficial than for others that were here before, which causes them to proliferate. Their problem is that they displace the ones that were there before and totally change the ecosystem, with all that that implies."



This is more noticeable with species that settle on the seabed, especially cnidarians (corals, anemones...). "Unlike fish, which are constantly moving, corals, for example, can colonize the bottom of an area, displace all the algae that were there before, and modify that ecosystem. In addition, and apart from climate change, this is also influenced by the constant passage of ships or platforms from other parts of the world, which also introduce species accustomed to higher temperatures, displace others, changing the entire food chain and, thus, the ecosystem".



According to him, another problem with invasive species is that, when forming a new ecosystem structure, "it may not have the ecological valence of the previous one, it does not generate an ecosystem as diverse as the previous one, the biodiversity of the area is impoverished and this is another negative effect of climate change."



In the case of fish, which is where the general population can see these changes more clearly, he points out that the most outstanding thing is the growing presence of species that previously stopped in the Gulf of Guinea and Cape Verde and did not reach the Canary Islands, but now do. Among others, he points to the fula sargento (with vertical stripes that make them similar to bream), of which some specimens used to appear, but now their presence is very frequent, first in El Hierro and La Palma and, later, in the rest.



Also the surgeonfish (acanthurus monroviae), "a species that began to be seen little by little in Gran Canaria and La Palma, but now there are whole schools everywhere". However, he assures that, for the time being, these fish "do not seem to be invasive, although their populations are increasing, although there are no studies on whether they affect other species; What is true is that they are already part of the ecosystem."



A positive change is the greater presence of viejas (of the parrotfish family) which, although not exactly endemic to the Canary Islands (just look at those sold by many supermarkets in Mauritania, Senegal...), is rooted in the Islands as a native species and is part of the idiosyncrasy and culture of the Canary Islands. In this case, and given that it is very fond of heat (tropical waters), the increase in temperature is benefiting its populations and they are becoming more and more appreciated, as he confirms. "No matter how much old fish are caught, there are always and the change is coming in handy for the fishing stcok, but it's a very specific case."



A KEY LOSS



As for the species that are migrating northwards or being lost due to warming, he is especially concerned about the Canarian moss, the yellow moss. "Before, it was very common to see it in spring on the northern slopes of the Islands, when it was torn away by sea storms and appeared on the beaches, but it is being lost. It is a structuring species, key to ecosystems when they are formed. A conch shell is not structuring, but this yellow moss is and it is very important for life, because in that rocky northern strip the fry live, lay eggs a lot of invertebrates and fish, it serves as hunting and refuge for all the marine fauna and, if it disappears, then the entire ecosystem almost disappears, and we have noticed this in all the islands. In fact, there are studies on Gran Canaria that confirm that more than 90% has been lost between 1987-89 and 2016, something that is happening the same in the rest of the islands".



As he emphasizes, in ecology any change does not have to be negative, it simply gives rise to something else, to something different. However, this loss of Canarian moss is very counterproductive and, in general, "climate change is leaving more negative than positive things in the Canary Islands, even with worrying imbalances because we do not know what the invasive species will bring. It's similar to what's happening on land with the cat's tail, that there are no species that eat it or that can handle it."



Of other species that are migrating, he points to the cabrilla and, above all, the rosemary, whose populations are decreasing considerably, although they are still on the islands. "In this case, it's not something of concern for the ecosystem because they are not structuring species, but it is influenced because it is a bottom fish of algae and, as these are disappearing, that explains why there are fewer and fewer."



As he explains, the problem with climate change or the effect on the sea by plastics is that, as it is a long-term effect, "reversing this is very complicated. We have been producing an excess of CO2 into the atmosphere for more than 100 years and that is not easy to reverse. No matter how much renewable energy is installed, oil is still being burned and CO2 is being emitted, we are not investing it and we are slowing down its progress somewhat, but not stopping it or turning it around."



However, he is neither pessimistic nor optimistic, although he is clear that "we are going towards a change, towards something different, we do not know very well what it will be like. The important thing is to stop the most tremendous consequences with environmental education and taking the reins, because the real engine of the brakes is in society. Whether this change is more positive or negative, we don't know either because nature tends to regulate itself and species self-regulate, like diseases (bacteria, viruses...), which fit together. That is why I am neither pessimistic nor optimistic, but we are living in uncertainty, although it is a fact that marine biology in the Canary Islands is changing and will continue to do so and someone who knew about it before the 60s and analysed it now or in 20 years may think that it is on another continent".



On whether or not fishermen are aware of these changes, he assures that, due to their relationship with the work of dissemination, "there is everything, although we have noticed a greater sensitivity and ecological awareness".



OVERPOPULATION



As he points out, climate change is not affecting species such as shrimp so much, not even due to the effect of fishing, or limpets, crabs and others, but there is a problem with overpopulation in the Canary Islands. "There are a lot of us. The population has grown by more than 100% in 50 years and that translates into double the pressure on the coast compared to before. Although it is regulated with minimum sizes and with seasons in which it cannot be harvested, there are many people catching limpets, shellfish and others on the coast and that affects."



On the contrary, climate change "does not harm cetaceans or the squid they feed on as they pass through the Canary Islands, nor sharks, which are affected by overfishing, plastics and pollution. I wish there were more sharks on our coasts because that's a reflection of rich ecosystems, being at the top of the food chain."



The harms of microplastics



The study focused on plankton and plastics that affect the Islands that De Vera is developing from the MUNA already has sampling in Fuerteventura and Tenerife. Although it is still too early to draw conclusions, he does welcome the international effort to try to change the trend.



"The world is still producing about 300 billion tons a year, and that's too much, of course. About 14 to 15 million tonnes of that amount end up in the oceans. It is true that we have begun a small transition towards biodegradable plastics that, unlike those that previously remained between 200 and 300 years without degrading in the sea (a chronic problem), last about six months, as is the case with supermarket bags made now, as a rule, with potato starch. It's happening a bit like CO2: we've slowed down the rate of pollution, we're not reversing it, but it's slower.



In the Canary Islands, where we also export plastics that reach the coasts of Cape Verde, for example, we have noticed that we receive them from all over the world, some from very remote countries. Those that come from the north-west currents are more important, and the eddies affect places such as the beach of Porís de Abona (Arico), but they come from everywhere. What we have found in Fuerteventura, north of Lobos, near Corralejo, its port and other population centres, is that in these areas there are no more plastics floating around than outside; on the contrary, there may be fewer. It is already a global problem, although we must continue to contribute with as little pollution as possible and, for that, the best thing is to have as much environmental awareness as possible," he explains.

Radio Sintonia:

The Government of the Canary Islands activates an emergency plan in the face of the arrival of pellets in the archipelago.

The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands, in application of the Territorial Emergency Plan of Civil Protection of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (PLATECA), and following the criteria of Civil Protection, has declared at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10, the situation of Pre-alert in the Canary Islands due to the specific episode of arrival of plastic granules (pellets) on the beach of Bajamar, in the municipality of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, which were detected around 10:00 a.m. by the Beach Lifeguard Service.



This preventive activation is carried out in order to make available the emergency resources of the Government of the Canary Islands and guarantee the coordination of the intervening services from 1-1-2 Canarias, which guarantee the correct monitoring of the situation.

In this sense, an initial surveillance system has been established on the north coast of Tenerife with the participation of a Maritime Rescue vessel, with the aim of locating and collecting this type of material on the high seas and preventing its arrival on the coast.

Likewise, the General Directorate of Emergencies has transferred that this surveillance must also be carried out by land through the Island Councils, City Councils and beach surveillance and lifeguard services in other areas of the Archipelago in case they are detected in other parts of the islands, although for the moment there is no record of their arrival in other areas of the coast of the Archipelago.

Experts from the University of La Laguna and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography consulted by the Government of the Canary Islands have ruled out the possibility that the plastic granules (pellets) located on the north coast of Tenerife come from the spill of the Toconao ship, as reported at a press conference by Marcos Lorenzo, Deputy Minister of Territorial Cohesion and Water.

Radio Sintonia:

The 37th edition of the Fuerteventura Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing Fair (FEAGA) will be held from 16 to 19 May 2024 at the Pozo Negro Experimental Agricultural Farm. The president of the Cabildo, Lola García, and the councillor of the area, Matías Peña, thank the work of the technical staff of the Cabildo who are coordinating to launch a new edition of the great regional event of the primary sector held in Fuerteventura.



They also extend their thanks to the city councils, institutions, entities of various types and companies that participate in the fair and, especially, to the professionals and groups of the primary sector whose commitment and participation is what has allowed EAGF to be consolidated in its previous editions. "It is the drive of all the people involved and the primary sector of Fuerteventura that allows us to continue promoting the fair," explains Matías Peña.

The Fuerteventura Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing Fair, of a regional nature, is the most important event in the Canary Islands aimed at this sector. It serves as a space for exchange, with the exhibition of the best of local products, technical conferences, exhibitions and competitions as consolidated as the National Goat Milk Cheese Competition-Tabefe Awards.

Noticias:

Free training as professional drivers in the Canary Islands.

The Ministry of Tourism and Employment is launching a pioneering project in Spain, fully financed by the Canary Islands Employment Service (SCE), which will provide free training to unemployed people, as well as employed workers who decide to reorient their professional careers to become professional drivers for passenger and freight transport.



The programme, which will be implemented by the Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs of the Canary Islands (FET), will make it possible to alleviate the shortage of uncovered personnel by transport companies in the Archipelago, currently estimated at 500 jobs.



The Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León, pointed out that "the project is doubly positive, since it not only allows training people who are looking for job opportunities, but also offers immediate and real job opportunities in a sector that is very much in need of professionals".

"The objective of the Ministry is to adjust the demand of the labor market, the jobs in which there are vacancies with the availability of unemployed people," said De León, who explained that 306 people will benefit from this initiative. In addition, he underlined the good coordination with the FET to make the project possible.



"The lack of drivers is due, according to the president of the FET, José Agustín Espino, to the fact that the license is not easy, mainly because all those interested must have the Certificate of Professional Aptitude (CAP), the mandatory training that drivers who want to have the document to drive heavy vehicles such as the C or D need to obtain. This means that a person without a job has to spend months preparing for this exam." To which he added that "the cost is high, it can be between 4,000 and 6,000 euros, so there are people who cannot afford it".



She also stressed that "in both the passenger transport sector and the freight sector, the trend is towards a progressive ageing of the professional group, although fortunately there is an increasing incorporation of women into the sector".



In the Canary Islands, 15% of women are represented by passenger transport, while freight transport accounts for 1.5%.



The SCE will assume the cost of the training in the amount of 563,011.65 euros. The training actions, 20 in total, will be given in all the Islands. The minimum age to access the courses is 21 years old, a requirement required by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) to be able to take the professional driving licence exam, while the maximum is 55 years old. The project will be completed in 11 months.

Noticias:

The largest rearing farm in the Canary Islands is in Tesjuates.

Councillor Narvay Quintero today visits the facility that has about 4,000 goats and an automated lactation room for more than 1,000 baifos

The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero, together with the President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Lola García, the CEO of the Primary Sector area, Matías Peña, and the General Director of Livestock, Andrés Díaz Matoso, today visit the goat farm destined for the largest rearing in the Canary Islands. belonging to the Fuerteventura Livestock Group.



This facility, which has involved an investment of around 2.5 million euros, has about 4,000 goats and has an automated lactation room with capacity for more than 1,000 baifos.

The company received the award for Best Goat Cheese for Maxorata (PDO Queso Majorero), within the framework of the 2022 Spanish Food Awards awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in addition to multiple medals in the Official Agrocanarias 2023 Cheese Competition organized by the Government