Spain proposes to create 23 new marine protected areas, mostly in the Canary Islands
Press Release Date: September 15, 2026
Location: Madrid
Contact:
Emily Fairless | email: efairless@oceana.org | tel.: +32 478 038 490
Protection must be backed by effective management to avoid creating new ‘paper parks’, says Oceana
Madrid – Oceana welcomes Spain’s proposal to expand its marine protected areas (MPAs) network – with 21 new MPAs for species and habitats [1], and two specifically to protect birds. Some of these sites were researched and proposed for protection by Oceana, including the northern coast of Gran Canaria, the seagrass meadows of the northern coast of Valencia, and the underwater canyon system of Gata and Almanzora-Alías-Garrucha.
The expansion, which mostly includes sites in the Canary Islands, would add 22,000 km2 of ocean to the surface area intended to protect vulnerable species and habitats, like seagrass meadows, turtles, and corals. It would increase Spain’s Natura 2000 marine network to 24.53% of its waters. The public consultation on these new designations closes today.
Notwithstanding this positive step, most of Spain’s MPAs still lack proper management and have no fishing restrictions in place, leaving them mere ‘paper parks’ – lines on a map, despite legal obligations and with deadlines exceeded by, in some cases, three years.
Michael Sealey, senior policy advisor at Oceana in Europe, said: “Oceana welcomes Spain’s creation of new MPAs. However, if the government is serious about achieving its target of protecting 30% of its seas by 2030, these designations need to go hand in hand with proper management, so that MPAs can become actual safe havens for the vulnerable species and habitats they were intended to shelter, and deliver benefits for the blue economy, including the fishing sector.”
Oceana is urging Spain to expand some of its proposed sites to include areas that the NGO has put forward in its response to the public consultation. This would protect additional zones where vulnerable habitats and species have been identified by Oceana during its expeditions, and bring Spain closer to its target of protecting 30% of its waters by 2030.
Group of ornate wrasses (Thalassoma pavo) & forest of black coral (Antipathella wollastoni), La Palma (left); common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), Teno-Rasca (right)
Oceana and ClientEarth have ongoing legal proceedings against the Spanish government for allowing bottom trawling – recognized for its high impact on ecosystems – to take place in its MPAs. This runs contrary to Spain’s legal obligations – in the Sustainable fisheries law and EU Habitats Directive – to adopt management measures for fisheries and assess the impact of fishing activities, such as bottom trawling, before allowing them in protected areas. Further, Oceana recently criticized Spain for twice exceeding the deadline to adopt nine management plans for Natura 2000 MPAs. The development of the management plans is funded by the EU LIFE IP Intemares project, which has cost nearly €50 million in public funding and was initially due to end in 2024. The project was postponed again this year to 2027, mainly due to delays by the fisheries ministry in proposing fisheries management measures in the areas.
Background:
Spain has committed to protecting at least 30% of its seas by 2030 under the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the State Strategic Plan for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (Plan Estratégico Estatal del Patrimonio Natural y de la Biodiversidad a 2030).
Spain should now review all the responses to the public consultation, and take into account Oceana’s recommendations to expand its proposed sites. Then it should submit its proposed sites to the European Commission for approval, which, once accepted, would become part of the Natura 2000 network. From that moment, the Spanish government will have up to six years to design and approve the required management plans.
Notes to editors:
[1] The 21 new MPAs would include:
Macaronesian biogegraphic region
- Franja marina occidental de La Palma
- Entorno de la costa de Garafía
- Espacio Marino entre el Guindaste y Puerto Trigo
- Aguas profundas en torno a Santiago-Valle Gran Rey
- Sebadales del este de La Gomera
- Entorno marino del noreste de La Gomera
- Sebadales de Igueste
- Sebadales del este de Tenerife
- Entorno de la franja marina de Teno-Rasca
- Plataforma exterior de la costa de San Juan de la Rambla
- Arrecifes del norte de Tenerife
- Arrecifes entre la Punta de Gando y la Punta del Cuervito
- Sebadales y arrecifes frente a Santa Lucía de Tirajana
- Sebadales del Cardón
- Espacio marino de la Costa noroccidental de Gran Canaria
- Formaciones arrecifales desde la Punta del Ataque hacia el Confital
- Sebadales de Famara
Meditarranean biogeographic region
- Praderas de fanerógamas frente al litoral norte de Valencia
- Entorno marino de Cap Formentor
- Sistemas de cañones submarinos de Gata y Almanzora-Alías-Garrucha
- Praderas de fanerógamas del litoral oriental de Granada
Learn more:
Oceana’s response to the consultation
Oceana photos and footage of species & habitats from some of the proposed new MPAs
