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 Value (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 will be on learning and skills development through hands-on activities. The day will begin with a welcome reception marking the opening of the Gran Canaria Living Lab. This will be followed by a workshop sharing practical insights and best practices from other living labs, highlighting how they contribute to Mission Ocean and wider sustainability goals.
MPA Managers will take part in a dedicated workshop exploring key digital tools to support their work, alongside a parallel session for professionals responsible for managing marine protected areas. Both sessions will take place at the Canary Islands Marine Research Centre – Clúster Marítimo de Canarias, Las Palmas.
Meanwhile, at the Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias (PLOCAN) in Telde, Gran Canaria, educators will present Blue Schools experiences, supporting both new and established schools in strengthening ocean literacy. A Round Table on Permitting will bring together invited stakeholders to address research-related challenges, while academics and universities are invited to explore how MINKA is creating new opportunities for citizen engagement in 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 Value”
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: Fishing Net Recycling
Thursday (29.01.2026): Fisher Guardians engages professional fishers as ocean protectors through port-side recycling containers to collect lost at sea and discarded fishing nets and a tailored recycling process to finally produce second-life plastic pellet. 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.
MPA Managers – Overcoming Challenges 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.
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 to discover how citizen science data can strengthen academic research and support evidence-based ecosystem management for public administrations and policy-makers.
The talk will walk through data collection tools and methods, and will explore different collaboration options for universities and research groups. It’s a chance to connect, ask questions, and discover real success stories, showing how MINKA is already contributing to academic and management 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
(Register by sending email to buceo@buceocanarias.com)
2. Biotopo de Arguineguín, Gran Canaria
Shoreline walk to photograph algae and other coastal benthonic communities
(Register by sending email to buceo@buceocanarias.com)
3. Parque de la Atlántida (Mogán), Gran Canaria
Shoreline walk to photograph algae and other coastal benthonic communities
(Register by sending email to buceo@buceocanarias.com)
4. Museo Atlántico, Lanzarote (replication site)
Shoreline walk to photograph algae and other coastal benthonic communities.
(Register by sending email to info@rubicondiving.com)
GRAN CANARIA LIVING LAB THREE-DAY PROGRAMME
Day 1
| Time | Activity | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Arrival at venue / Registration / Coffee | |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Litter Entrepreneurs: 3rd Webinar – From Waste to Value: Moderator + 2 guest speakers
Transport provided from 15:30 (Guagua – taxi – private transfer from CMC to Port/ Cooperativa Puerto San Cristobal) |
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 | MPA Managers – Overcoming Challenges 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 | MPA Managers – Overcoming Challenges 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Register by sending email to info@rubicondiving.com