- The course will take place in Taliarte, Gran Canaria, from 8 to 10 November and accepts online connections
- Diversification of species in aquaculture and innovations in marine biotechnologies, are among the planned presentations
Blue growth in the outermost regions of the European Union and, specifically, in island systems is the focus of the 'FORWARD Webinar', an event organised by the University Institute for Research in Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (ECOAQUA) and the Spanish Bank of Algae (BEA) of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The 'FORWARD Webinar: Blue Innovations in the OER' will be held from 8 to 10 November at the ULPGC Science, Technology and Marine Park, located in Taliarte, Telde (Gran Canaria), between 12.30 and 14.00.
Experts, academics and professionals will meet at Taliarte to address relevant issues in the sector, such as Governance, Marine Spatial Planning and Conservation, Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnologies. Attendees will also be able to connect remotely to attend the presentations, after registering on the link:https://afidcongresos.com/blue-innovations-in-the-ors/
Participants will gain a solid general understanding of the basic aspects applied and related to blue growth initiatives in the European outermost regions, such as the Canary Islands, and, by extension, in nearby small island developing states.
Four content modules
The speakers will present the contents divided into four specific modules. To begin with, they will discuss the characteristics of blue growth and how ocean governance can be applied in an interconnected and highly communicated world.
This will be followed by innovations in aquaculture, including the projects developed at the University Institute ECOAQUA of the ULPGC, whose headquarters hosts the webinar.
Current trends in marine spatial planning in island systems will be another one of the modules which will be completed with the advances made in the field of marine conservation.
The first session will deal with microplastic pollution in the Canary Islands, marine spatial planning in the ORs, new trends in microalgae production, aquaponics and the circular economy.
The second session, scheduled for Tuesday 9 November, will feature presentations by professionals on species diversification in aquaculture, marine animal welfare, modelling in artisanal fisheries and biodiversity in the Macaronesian region.
In the third and last session of the course, the experts will address topics such as the diversification of aquaculture species under tropical levels and the characteristics of ecosystems associated with subtidal habitats. The day will end with a round table discussion on the contents dealt with during the sessions, with the participation of researchers from the EOMAR, GIA and BIOCON Groups of the ECOAQUA University Institute that participated as speakers in the different sessions of the Webinar.
FORWARD Project
The event is part of the FORWARD Project, inspired by the principle 'Science with and for society' and the work of expert groups from the outermost regions (ORs) of the European Union. It is part of the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizonte 2020.
The FORWARD project is aimed at creating a collaborative network to promote research excellence in the OR environment, highlighting the value of the their potential and resources that make these territories unique, which have become true natural laboratories in sectors such as pharmacology, renewable energies, social sciences, space sciences and astronomy.