Protest by land and sea in Tenerife demands real protection for the Teno-Rasca marine area
Organisers say about 50 kayaks and boards and more than 100 people on land turned out on 31 October. They want an immediate tourism moratorium and more resources for this Natura 2000 site.
A large floating banner reading “Teno-Rasca no se toca” (“Teno-Rasca is not to be touched”) travelled along Tenerife’s southwest coast on 31 October. Organisers say about 50 kayaks, paddleboards and surfboards went with it, and more than 100 people gathered on land.
The groups behind it are Abeque, ADNT, ATAN, Canarias tiene un límite, Greenpeace, Ben Magec-Ecologistas en Acción, Coordinadora El Rincón-Ecologistas en Acción, Salvar El Puertito, Salvar Fonsalía and Salvar Punta Blanca. “People can’t take any more,” they say.
What Teno-Rasca is
It’s a Special Area of Conservation in the Natura 2000 network, declared in September 2011.
- It covers about 69,490 hectares, according to Spain’s environment ministry.
- It borders Buenavista del Norte, Santiago del Teide, Guía de Isora, Adeje and Arona.
- It has sandbanks, seagrass meadows, marine caves and endangered species such as sea turtles.
- It’s described as Europe’s first and the world’s third Whale Heritage Site, with up to 28 cetacean species.
The 16 projects
The groups name 16 projects they consider a threat, among them housing, hotels, ports and golf courses. These include Fonsalía port, the Los Cristianos port expansion, Cuna del Alma in Adeje and the Punta de Rasca golf project, as well as WaveGardens La Tejita, near the area.
Another on the list, Underwater Gardens, was halted this summer after mobilisation.
What they want
- An immediate tourism moratorium and a halt to projects threatening the area.
- A commitment from the island government (Cabildo) not to back tourism infrastructure presented as sustainable.
- An updated management plan with a carrying-capacity study.
- Permanent surveillance and removal of non-compliant companies.
- Assessment of cumulative effects, without splitting projects into parts.
The source reports no response from the Cabildo or other authorities.
If you go whale watching, use authorised companies and keep your distance. And for another pressure on Canary Islands nature, read about the exotic species threatening the archipelago.
Sources and references
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