The Canary archipelago faces a critical gap between theory and practice in the conservation of its waters. According to the 2026 Status Report on Marine Protected Areas in the Canary Islands, presented by the Expert Committee of the MPA Canary Islands Project, 21.7% of the regional marine demarcation has legal protection figures. However, this percentage hides a precarious reality: less than 1% of the surface enjoys strict protection and barely 11% of the spaces have an active management system. The pioneering study, which applies the international methodology The MPA Guide, warns that much of the marine protection network survives only on paper. The pressures on the Atlantic ecosystem, characterized by exceptional biodiversity of cetaceans and critically endangered species such as the angel shark, have intensified due to coastal urbanization, overfishing, and mass tourism. The urgency to reverse this trend coincides with the ambitious goal of the European Union to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030, a target that positions the Canary Islands as a key piece to close the coverage deficit in Spain. However, researchers emphasize that the expansion of protected areas makes little sense without a qualitative improvement in the surveillance and funding of existing spaces. The scientific diagnosis proposes a roadmap to overcome the administrative paralysis affecting current management plans. Key priorities include the creation of regional biological corridors, cooperation with neighboring Macaronesian archipelagos, and the consolidation of new areas of interest, such as the future Guguy National Park in Gran Canaria or the proposal in the Sea of Calmas, in El Hierro. The scientific community insists that the focus must shift from the mere declaration of spaces to the implementation of effective measures that guarantee the climate resilience of the marine environment. The project, funded by the international alliance Ocean 5, aims to transform the islands into a benchmark for sustainable management, overcoming the fragmentation of current regulations. Shortcomings in continuous monitoring and evaluation of results have been identified as weak points that prevent the Natura 2000 Network and other regional figures from achieving their conservation potential. With the support of institutions like ULPGC, IEO-CSIC, and international experts, the Canary Islands now face a critical examination to determine whether their commitment to the ocean will ultimately be effective or remain limited to statements of intent.
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