What is the Canary Islands Mega Event?
MarCoLab Gran Canaria and MarCoLab Lanzarote invite you to the first PHAROS Mega Event, an exciting 3-day event from the 29th to 31st of January, 2026.
Join the Atlantic and Arctic Lighthouse community to promote marine restoration, ocean literacy, and the blue economy in the Canary Islands.
There are lots of ways to get involved, and there will be something for everyone!
Check the agenda below and register for the events that sound exciting to you.
Gran Canaria Living Lab Event
Let’s work together for ocean health!
The Gran Canaria MegaEvent will bring together government, researchers, innovators, educational institutions, businesses, investors and local community to launch the two Living Lab communities, collaboratively address marine ecosystem restoration challenges, and help make the ocean healthier.
Mar-Co-Lab is a blue economy innovation space whose name sums up its mission: Mar as the ocean, Co as collaboration, cooperation and co-creation, and Lab as a living lab; the word Marco within its name explicitly refers to a framework, a shared structure where, through the quadruple helix, innovation and awareness around nature-based solutions are fostered to balance the economy and environmental protection.
THREE-DAY PROGRAMME
The MegaEvent kicks off on the theme of marine waste with a panel of blue economy and waste recycling experts. PHAROS invites you to the live recording of the 3rd Litter Entrepreneurs webinar series at Clúster Marítimo De Canarias. Speaking on the topic From Waste to Worth (in Spanish) we will keep following the valuation process of ocean waste. Then come to the port with us to learn more about Fisher Guardians. This program will launch recycling bins for fishers’ plastic waste at San Cristóbal port, supporting more sustainable fishing practices.
On Friday, the focus is on learning and growing skills through hands-on activities. It begins with a welcome party to open the Gran Canaria Living Lab at . Then, join a workshop for useful tips from other best practices for living labs in achieving Mission Ocean and other sustainability goals. MPA Managers will be meeting to workshop important digital tools to support their work. and another session for people who look after protected sea areas. Both happen at the Canary Islands Marine Research Centre Clúster Marítimo De Canarias in Las Palmas. At Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias, Telde , Gran Canaria (PLOCAN, Contact) educators will share Blue Schools experiences and support new and experienced schools to grow ocean literacy. The Round Table on Permitting will engage invited guests to solve research challenges, and academics and universities are invited to check out how MINKA is creating opportunities for them to work with citizens in their research.
Saturday is your chance to become a citizen marine scientist at the BioBlitz! Qualified divers can help collect biodiversity data at one of 3 dive sites in Gran Canaria, or at Museo Atlántico, Lanzarote. Plus, get tips on using the MINKA app to share your finds and join in as citizen scientists!
WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, ROUNDTABLE
OPEN TO EVERYONE:
Litter Entrepreneurs Webinar “From Waste to Worth”
Thursday (29.01.2026): This in-person seminar introduces best practices for becoming ocean entrepreneurs. Participants will learn how to transform plastic litter into sustainable businesses through innovative solutions, training, and tools for circular economy ventures. The session will be held in Spanish and will also be accessible online via Zoom, with live English subtitles available for online participants.
Best Practices in Living Labs Workshop
Friday (30.01.2026): This interactive training workshop empowers stakeholders to co-develop marine biodiversity solutions, shares effective engagement methods, citizen participation strategies, and governance approaches for Living Lab implementation. We welcome leaders of Living Labs.
INVITE ONLY:
FISHER GUARDIANS: Launch of Recycling Containers With Fishers
Thursday (29.01.2026): Fisher Guardians engages fishers as ocean protectors through port-side recycling containers for old or unused fishing nets. It promotes circular economy, reduces marine litter and pollution, and shows how the fishing industry is helping to protect the sea. Book your visit to the port and learn more.
ROUND TABLE: Permitting Challenges & Opportunities for Academia and Collaborative Projects
Friday (30.01.2026): The round table brings together key stakeholders including local authorities, marine spatial planners, regulators, academic institutions and project teams to discuss R&I permit barriers and explore possible collaborative solutions.
PHAROS Marine Protected Area Managers Workshop
Friday (30.01.2026): The session will focus on the co-creation and further development of the Blueprint Platform, a collection of tools designed to support MPA managers that are being developed under the Blue4All Project and will be further enhanced by PHAROS.
This session is by invitation. Please contact info@pharosproject.eu if you are a MPA manager interested in attending this event or being involved in the development of the Blueprint Platform tools.
Blue Schools Seminar
Friday (30.01.2026): This seminar is for teachers and educators to share their experiences as Blue Schools. Canary Islands teachers are invited to celebrate achievements, and plan for the future expansion of the Blue School Network across Atlantic and Arctic basins. Blue schools promotes ocean literacy and citizen science engagement, and empowers the younger generation toward sustainable blue economy careers.
MINKA Information Session for Academia
Friday (30.01.2026): MINKA Citizen platform is hosting an information session designed for academia to explore how citizen-generated data can support research, validation, and real-world impact.
The session will walk through platform features, data collection tools, and collaboration options for universities and research groups. It’s a chance to connect, ask questions, and see how MINKA can strengthen academic projects.
Citizen Science Marine BioBlitz (Saturday January 31, 2026, 09:00-13:00)
Citizens of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote will become scientists for the day, collecting photos of coastal plants and animals and learning how to upload them to MINKA so they can be used by marine researchers. Bring your family and friends for a great day out on the coast of Gran Canaria or Lanzarote.
1. EL CABRON, Gran Canaria
Shoreline walk to photograph algae and other coastal benthonic communities (Led by TURCON, registration coming soon)
2. Biotopo de Arguineguín, Gran Canaria
Shoreline walk to photograph algae and other coastal benthonic communities (Led by TURCON, registration coming soon)
3. Parque de la Atlántida (Mogán), Gran Canaria
Shoreline walk to photograph algae and other coastal benthonic communities (Led by TURCON, registration coming soon)
4. Museo Atlántico, Lanzarote (replication site)
Shoreline walk to photograph algae and other coastal benthonic communities. Led by Blackstone Treks and Tours, registration coming soon.
GRAN CANARIA LIVING LAB THREE-DAY PROGRAMME
Day 1
| Time | Activity | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Arrival at venue / Registration / Coffee | |
| 14:30 – 16:00 | Litter Entrepreneurs: 3rd Webinar – From Waste to Worth: Moderator + 2 guest speakers | CMC |
| 16:00 | FISHER GUARDIANS – Launch of recycling containers with fishers (Gravity Wave) | San Cristóbal (Outdoor) |
Day 2
| Time | Activity | Location / Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Arrival at venue / Registration / Coffee | — | ||
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Gran Canaria Living Lab Opening Ceremony | — | ||
| 09:30 – 11:00 | PHAROS MPA Managers Workshop | CMC | ||
| 09:30 – 11:30 | Best Practices in Living Labs Workshop (Registration required) | CMC | ||
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Blue Schools Seminar | PLOCAN | ||
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break | — | ||
| 11:30 – 13:30 | PHAROS MPA Managers Workshop (continued) | CMC | ||
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Round Table: Permitting Academia / Projects | PLOCAN | ||
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch | — | ||
| 14:30 – 16:00 | MINKA Info Session, Academia Experts for Species Identification | — |
DIVING SITE 1: PLOCAN
| Time | Activity | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Orientation & participant sign-in | PLOCAN (Register on arrival) |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Dive briefing, meet-up & welcome; bus transfer to site; safety introduction | Meeting point → transfer to diving site |
| 10:00 – 13:00 | Diving Site 1 (PLOCAN or El Cabrón) – Shoreline walk & photographing algae and coastal bentonic communities | Field activity at chosen site |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch + Minka training & photo upload | On-site / Workshop space |
DIVING SITE 2: Biotopo de Arguineguín
| Time | Activity | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Orientation & participant sign-in | Welcome / Safety introduction |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Dive briefing, meet-up & welcome; Bus transfer to site; Safety introduction | Meeting point → Transfer to diving site |
| 10:00 – 13:00 | Diving Site 2 (Biotopo de Arguineguín) | Shoreline walk to photograph algae and coastal benthic communities (guided by TURCON) |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch + Minka training & Photo upload | On-site / Workshop space |
DIVING SITE 3: Parque de la Atlántida (Mogán)
| Time | Activity | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Orientation & participant sign-in | Welcome / Safety introduction |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Dive briefing, meet-up & welcome; Bus transfer to site; Safety introduction | Meeting point → Transfer to diving site |
| 10:00 – 13:00 | Diving Site 3 (Parque de la Atlántida, Mogán) | Shoreline walk to photograph algae and coastal benthic communities (guided by TURCON) |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch + Minka training & Photo upload | On-site / Workshop space |
DIVING SITE 4: Museo Atlántico, Lanzarote
| Time | Activity | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Orientation & participant sign-in | Welcome / Safety introduction |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Dive briefing, meet-up & welcome; Bus transfer to site; Safety introduction | Meeting point → Transfer to diving site |
| 10:00 – 13:00 | Diving Site 4 (Museo Atlántico, Lanzarote, replication site) | Shoreline walk to photograph algae and coastal benthic communities |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch + Minka training & Photo upload | On-site / Workshop space |