The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) welcomed a technical team from the Directorate General of Fisheries of the Canary Islands Government at its Taliarte facilities. The meeting aimed to identify common areas of interest and foster new lines of collaboration between the two institutions. During the encounter, PLOCAN officials and technicians presented the infrastructure's capabilities and its main areas of activity related to the marine and fishing sector.
The meeting facilitated the exchange of knowledge and analysis of cooperation opportunities in sustainability, digitalization, ocean observation, and technological development. Topics discussed included marine renewable energies, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, and aspects related to permits for maritime activities.
The exchange also explored the potential of data management and artificial intelligence to enhance understanding of the marine environment and support applications such as vessel identification. Furthermore, PLOCAN showcased its capabilities in marine robotics, autonomous vehicles, and ocean observation systems.
Environmental monitoring, marine litter, and scientific research, education, and outreach initiatives, including the Blue Schools program, were also part of the discussions. The meeting fostered an open dialogue on potential collaboration pathways and next steps, aiming to connect the competencies of the Directorate General of Fisheries with PLOCAN's scientific, technological, and operational capacities.
The day concluded with a visit to PLOCAN's Laboratory of Underwater Vehicles, Instruments, and Machines, where the delegation gained insight into various platforms and technologies used for ocean observation and exploration, such as gliders, remotely operated vehicles, and autonomous systems.
