Greenpeace has called for the immediate removal of sea bass farming cages off Melenara beach in Gran Canaria, warning of a serious environmental impact. An activist recently provided footage showing large numbers of dead fish packed into containers at Taliarte port, originating from aquaculture farms placed offshore.
Irene Sánchez, spokesperson for Greenpeace in the Canary Islands, highlighted that the area has experienced another “massive fish mortality event,” similar to one that occurred months earlier. She described the situation as “unsustainable” and demanded a thorough analysis of the underlying causes along with transparency regarding the issue.
Sánchez stressed the urgent need for authorities to adopt a genuinely sustainable food model. Greenpeace is also opposing new aquaculture projects, including a proposed farm in La Aldea that aims to produce around 5,400 tonnes of fish annually.
Ecologists argue that the current aquaculture production model is pushing the system to its limits due to the overcrowding of fish in cages. They attribute recent fish deaths to rising ocean temperatures, decreasing oxygen levels, and the stress caused to fish in captivity.
They note that such mortality events are not uncommon in aquaculture, citing documented cases in countries like Norway and Chile. The situation in Gran Canaria is exacerbated by farms located just 350 metres from Melenara beach, an area restricted under the Regional Aquaculture Planning Law, and near specially protected zones for birds in La Aldea.
