Concerns have been raised regarding the social and ecological “impact” on the island, describing it as a “covert” initiative for marine regeneration and sustainability.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 13 March. (Europa Press) –
A coalition of nearly thirty environmental organisations, surf clubs, and associations from Tenerife have united to firmly oppose the tourist initiative ‘Underwater Garden’, which is being promoted in the municipality of Guía de Isora, and call for its immediate cessation.
Through a joint manifesto, they highlight the “environmental, social, and economic repercussions” that this project would have on the coast of Tenerife and demand a “shift in the management model” relating to the island’s territory.
They assert that this is a theme park “disguised as marine regeneration” targeted at a high-income tourist demographic.
“In the Canary Islands, similar initiatives have led to tourist infrastructure with irreversible effects on landscapes and ecosystems. The use of terms such as sustainability obscures the true speculative nature of this project,” they state.
While the signatories acknowledge that research into ecological restoration is “valuable”, they contend that the Canary Islands already possess a confirmed model for the recovery of marine ecosystems, such as marine reserves, which are proven to be the “most effective strategy” for regeneration without intensifying the anthropisation of the coastline.
The organisations also caution that the establishment of underwater infrastructure in a region characterised by strong currents and complex bathymetry “is not only impractical but also poses a considerable risk to local marine ecosystems.”
In fact, they highlight that the biodiversity of the Canary Coasts “is delicate and any intervention of this nature could result in devastating consequences, particularly in areas already stressed by human activities.”
They believe that “this project would attract thousands of additional tourists and lead to increased boat traffic in the Special Conservation Zone (ZEC), thereby amplifying the pressure on it.”
Consequently, they emphasise that, just as they successfully “halted” the port of Fonsalía, they will not permit this “macroproject to proceed.”
Loss of Space for the Local Community and Land Consumption
The groups further assert that the local community would be adversely impacted by the “indirect privatisation” of the natural area of Punta Blanca, “one of the last refuges on the island where fishermen, surfers, families, and nature enthusiasts can enjoy the environment free from the burdens of mass tourism.”
Consequently, they state that placing a theme park and restricting access to the area makes it “challenging” for the residents to enjoy a vital space for their identity and well-being, and in a constrained territory like Tenerife, the “uncontrolled consumption” of land endangers food sovereignty and the island’s future.
The groups also call for planning that prioritises the preservation of agricultural land rather than its “indiscriminate” consumption, as tourist megaprojects “elevate living and housing costs, facilitating gentrification and the displacement of local occupants.”
On a sporting level, they warn of the potential impact on one of the “most iconic” waves in the Canary Islands, noting that the installation of underwater infrastructure and a potential obstruction “poses risks to the dynamics of the currents and could alter the wave formation, impacting both surfers and local athletes, as well as the natural equilibrium of the coastal ecosystem.”
“DECEITFUL STRATEGIES”
The groups also denounce that the promoter has employed “deceptive strategies” to garner support, “excluding critical information regarding infrastructure, environmental impacts, and marine concessions.”
“Prior experiences in the Canary Islands have illustrated the risks associated with such projects, and the Canarian community is not prepared to be misled once more,” they assert.
Thus, they caution that “allowing this project would pave the way for more tourist infrastructure, accelerating the destruction of our coastline and heightening the dependency on tourism in the Canary Islands,” and they remark that promoting the islands through parks and artificial attractions “detracts from what they truly represent, their natural value and uniqueness.”
These types of initiatives, “focussed on artificiality, diverge from the vision of sustainable tourism that values and respects the authentic natural environment of the islands.”
In the manifesto, the groups propose “practical alternatives” for marine regeneration and conservation, featuring initiatives such as guided observation routes, environmental education, and participatory conservation programmes that respect the natural environment and benefit the community without jeopardising the island’s future.
They argue for the establishment of marine reserves, as these are one of the “only proven” and effective methods for regenerating seabed ecosystems in the Canary Islands and contribute to the promotion of a more sustainable tourism model, grounded in respect and conservation of the natural surroundings.
Consequently, they demand from the Cabildo de Tenerife and the project promoter, Marc García-Durán, the abandonment of the ‘Underwater Garden’ initiative and urge the Corporation to cease promoting tourist ventures “disguised as sustainability.”
