Microplastics in Canarian sharks
Alicia Herrera, full professor at ULPGC, presented a Master's thesis with the study First Evidence of Microplastic Ingestion in the Shark Squalus megalops from the Canary Islands. The analysis demonstrated microplastic ingestion in this elasmobranch species, providing the first documented evidence in Canarian waters.
This finding reinforces the need to investigate plastic contamination in marine biodiversity of the Canarian archipelago, a biodiversity hotspot in the Atlantic.
Las Canteras beach, international conservation reference
Maite Asensio presented the case of Las Canteras beach as ISRA (International Shark Research Area), a community-driven model integrating coastal ecotourism, environmental outreach, and citizen science for elasmobranch conservation. The beach was recognized by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in 2025.
Congress key data
- Over 80 countries represented
- Around 600 research initiatives presented
- Venue: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Latitud Azul's participation in Sharks International 2026 consolidates the NGO's commitment to marine research in the Canary Islands and positions the islands as a reference in shark and ray conservation in the Atlantic.
