Canarias seeks to consolidate its position on the map of recreational boating with the organization of the upcoming National Convention of Marinas and Sports Ports. The public entity Puertos Canarios, under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, leads negotiations with the federation Marinas de España to convert the archipelago into the venue for this high-level meeting in November 2026. The initiative arises at a time of redefinition for these infrastructures, which have ceased to be mere docking points to become essential nodes of economic activity and urban coexistence for coastal communities. The event, which will be structured under the motto ‘Strategic Infrastructures for Coastal Development’, aims to address the paradigm shift in port governance. The main focus of the working sessions will be the integration of marinas into the surrounding territory, adapting them to sustainability and quality criteria demanded by the current market. The strategic proposal of José Gilberto Moreno, managing director of Puertos Canarios, aims to make the local port community visible to national operators, fostering a management framework that is more approachable to citizens and efficient in environmental terms. The convention’s agenda will bring to the table the regulatory and administrative obstacles that hinder the modernization of the sector in Spain. Through conferences and expert panels, the current competitional frameworks will be analyzed, and success stories in innovation and services will be shared. The ultimate goal of the meeting is the signing of the Canary Islands Pact for Marinas and Sustainable Coastal Development, an institutional commitment document that seeks to align the interests of public administrations and private concessionaires on a common roadmap towards operational excellence. From the Spanish Federation of Associations of Sports and Tourist Ports, its president Tomás Azcárate has emphasized the uniqueness of the islands as a maritime enclave to raise the quality standards of the sector. Marinas de España, which represents more than 150 facilities along the national coastline, sees the Canary proposal as an opportunity to strengthen coordination among the various players in the auxiliary industry, nautical tourism, and port managers. The convention thus stands out as a forum to highlight the role of sports ports as economic engines of the Spanish coastline.
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