The arrival of summer brings not only beaches and heat, but also an opportunity to reflect on the health of our oceans. In Spain, two parallel events are focusing on the situation of sharks, animals that, despite their bad reputation, are fundamental to maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems . Both in the Canary Islands and in Madrid, the scheduled activities aim to bring the public closer to the reality of these species and the risks they face.
The International Ocean Film Tour, considered Europe's most important ocean film festival, will stop in Fuerteventura on July 12. Meanwhile, Atlantis Aquarium Madrid will commemorate International Shark Awareness Day on July 14 with an open house. Both events share a clear message: the need to protect predators that are suffering an alarming decline due to human activity.
The International Ocean Film Tour arrives in Fuerteventura with a conservation message
The Corralejo Municipal Auditorium in La Oliva will host the only screening on the island of the International Ocean Film Tour on Sunday, July 12th at 18:00 PM. The event includes five international documentaries and will feature a special appearance by marine scientist Maite Asensio Elvira, representative of the Canary Islands-based association Latitud Azul. During her presentation, she will introduce the European project " Conservation Strategies for Sharks and Rays in the Canary Islands ," an initiative supported by the BestLife2030 program that aims to improve knowledge and protection of sharks and rays in the archipelago.
According to data provided by the organization, 78 species of sharks and rays have been identified in the Canary Islands, of which approximately 45% are threatened. Furthermore, high levels of metals have been detected in deep-water sharks around the Canary Islands , highlighting the vulnerability of these species. The project is working to collect data on the biology, distribution, ecology, and threats to these species, as well as to develop a vulnerability map. Collaboration between scientists, government agencies, and the fishing industry is one of the cornerstones of this strategy, which also includes environmental education campaigns and citizen science initiatives.
The festival, which has already visited Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Tenerife, will continue its tour through several Spanish and Portuguese cities until October. In Fuerteventura, in addition to the general admission, a free morning educational session has been organized for young people from the municipality. Attendees will be able to participate in raffles for trips, diving courses, and sailing experiences, all with the sea as the central theme.
Atlantis Aquarium Madrid joins the effort to raise awareness about sharks
On Tuesday, July 14, Atlantis Aquarium Madrid will celebrate International Shark Awareness Day with a special program that includes free guided tours. Throughout July, visitors can participate in a scavenger hunt to identify the ten shark species housed at the aquarium, including the blacktip reef shark, the zebra shark, and the bonnethead shark. At the end of the tour, children can enjoy a workshop where they learn how these animals breathe, swim, and feed, and receive a pin of their favorite species.
Special guided tours will be offered every hour from 12:30 to 14:30 p.m. and from 17:00 to 20:00 p.m., with free admission until capacity is reached. Paula Calatrava, head of the aquarium's Education Department, emphasized that the goal is to dispel myths surrounding sharks and demonstrate their importance as apex predators that help control populations of other species and maintain healthy marine ecosystems.
Atlantis Aquarium points out that, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, global populations of deep-sea sharks and rays have declined by 71% since 1970. This has led to 36% of the approximately 1.200 species of chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) being at risk of extinction. This data comes from a global study published in the journal Nature, led by researcher Nathan Pacoureau of Simon Fraser University (Canada).
The threat that hangs over sharks
Both events agree that the main threat to sharks is human activity. Overfishing, bycatch, and habitat destruction are pushing many species to the brink of extinction. Despite their bad reputation, sharks are essential for the balance of the oceans because they occupy the top of the food chain. Without them, their prey populations would grow unchecked and disrupt the entire marine ecosystem.
In the case of Atlantis Aquarium, in addition to its educational activities, the center is participating in a research project with the Autonomous University of Madrid and Chelonia to develop solutions for reducing the accidental capture of sharks and rays during fishing. Meanwhile, the project presented in Fuerteventura by Latitud Azul includes the analysis of accidental catches and the creation of a vulnerability map for Canary Island species. Science and collaboration with the fishing industry are emerging as key tools for halting the decline of these animals.
The combination of education, research, and public awareness offered by these two summer events demonstrates that more and more voices are willing to change perceptions about sharks. Far from being bloodthirsty monsters, they are fascinating creatures that have inhabited the oceans for millions of years and now need our help to survive. Both on the Canary Islands' coast and in the heart of Madrid, the message is the same: protecting sharks is protecting the health of the seas, and therefore, our own.
