This is How Government of Canary Islands helps PHAROS

• August 29, 2025

The Regional Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI), part of the Government of the Canary Islands, plays an important role in the PHAROS project by creating strong connections between science, policy, and local communities in the region. ACIISI’s contributions are important in advancing PHAROS’s goals, particularly in the Canary Islands where Demo 1 and Demo 2 are implemented.

Stakeholder Engagement

ACIISI has been essential in facilitating stakeholder engagement by coordinating technical meetings involving regional government ministries, public authorities, and local stakeholders. This collaborative effort ensures smooth acquisition of all necessary permits and authorisations required for the successful deployment of the PHAROS demos in the Canary Islands, enabling the project to proceed with strong regional support.

Technical Support and System Design

Drawing on its aquaculture expertise, ACIISI has contributed significantly to the conceptual design of the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system central to PHAROS. This includes shaping monitoring strategies and aiding in the identification of system providers, as well as drafting detailed technical specifications required for procurement. These technical inputs ensure that the IMTA system is tailored to regional conditions and innovation standards.

Dissemination and Outreach

ACIISI actively promotes PHAROS through various academic and stakeholder events, helping to broaden the project’s visibility and impact. Highlights include delivering a dedicated lecture for aquaculture master’s students at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and supporting presentations at the National Aquaculture Congress (CNA 2024). The agency also participates in regional stakeholder events, such as those in Almería, with upcoming presentations planned at Aquaculture Europe in Valencia and a university in Morocco. This outreach strengthens cross-border knowledge exchange and fosters awareness of PHAROS’s innovative approaches.

Relevance to PHAROS

ACIISI’s involvement significantly enhances PHAROS’s regional dimension by effectively bridging research, policy, and local stakeholder interests. Its contributions to system design, stakeholder coordination, and dissemination activities are vital for demonstrating IMTA solutions that comply with regional policies while promoting sustainable blue economy innovation. Through ACIISI’s engagement, PHAROS gains a robust foundation in the Canary Islands, supporting its wider ambitions across the Atlantic-Arctic basin.

About PHAROS

PHAROS is a dynamic, action-oriented project designed to contribute substantially to the European Union’s ambitious Ocean Mission objectives. These objectives focus on three critical areas to be achieved by 2030: protecting and restoring marine ecosystems and biodiversity; preventing and eliminating ocean pollution; and fostering a sustainable blue economy that is carbon-neutral and circular. The EU Mission Implementation Plan divides this journey into two intensive phases: an initial development and piloting phase by 2025, followed by a deployment and upscaling phase from 2026 to 2030.