ECOAQUA Institute launches marine biodiversity project in Canary Islands

The ECOAQUA University Institute, part of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is implementing the ‘Dive Reporter’ project in the Canary Islands. This citizen science initiative utilizes routine dives from local diving centers to gather data on marine biodiversity.

Currently, the network includes 20 collaborating centers across Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and El Hierro. The project has already recorded approximately 1,100 dives. Through a digital application, divers can register the presence and abundance of 24 specific species of interest, such as grouper and amberjack, along with environmental data including date, time, location, and number of divers.

Coordinated by researcher Rodrigo Riera, the project aims to build a continuous database to analyze distribution patterns, frequency, and relative abundance. To support the initiative, more than 30 diving professionals have received training on species identification and the use of the digital platform.