The II National Congress of Marinas in Spain commenced with an institutional session at the Gran Canaria Salon of the Hotel Cristina by Tigotan. Pablo Rodríguez, the Canary Islands' Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, and Tomás Azcárate, President of Marinas of Spain, highlighted key issues including the modernisation of facilities, legal security, and the economic and social recognition of the sector.
Gathering over 250 participants from 64 marinas, alongside representatives from various administrations, businesses, and organisations linked to nautical-port activities, the congress is supported by the Canary Islands' Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility and Canarian Ports.
During his speech, Rodríguez noted that hosting the second Congress of Marinas in Spain in the Canary Islands underscores the ongoing efforts to modernise marinas and sports ports in the archipelago. He argued that the Canary Islands possess particularly favourable conditions for such facilities and stressed the need to update infrastructures that have become obsolete.
One of the initiatives put forward by the Canary Islands government is the extension of concessions that are nearing expiry or have already expired, aimed at facilitating new private investments. According to Rodríguez, these extensions could mobilise over €60 million in private capital for the modernisation of Canarian marinas. He cited Pasito Blanco in Gran Canaria and Puerto Calero in Lanzarote as the first marinas to have their concessions extended under this model, with both expecting to generate over €15 million in investments for their transformation in the coming years.
Rodríguez linked this policy to a broader vision of the role of marinas in the Canary Islands, which boasts around 1,500 kilometres of coastline. He argued that recreational port activities generate employment and economic activity beyond just boat mooring, through services such as ship repairs, supplies, and other business activities related to the facilities.
He also mentioned that Canarian Ports manages approximately 50 ports, shelters, and marinas directly and indirectly, and explained that during the current legislative term, efforts have been made to enhance their efficiency through renewable energy, technology, and new management systems.
Azcárate focused on the need to strengthen national cohesion within the sector and advance the recognition of sports and tourist ports as strategic infrastructures for coastal development. He expressed gratitude for the support from the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility and Canarian Ports in hosting the congress and acknowledged the work done by the sector.
He argued that collaboration with administrations is essential to address common challenges and enable marinas to progress in sustainability, economic activity, navigation, tourism, and their relationship with cities. Azcárate also highlighted the social dimension of these facilities, describing them as 'gateways to the sea' for the public, and called for greater institutional and statistical understanding of the activity they generate.
He noted that the sector represents around 27,000 direct and indirect jobs, yet still lacks a specific statistical classification to accurately identify the overall economic activity linked to marinas and the businesses operating within them. Azcárate stated that around sports ports, various activities coexist, including concessions, port activities, dining, commerce, excursion boats, and other marine-related enterprises. This concentration of activity, he asserted, makes marinas economic hubs for their respective regions.
The institutional inauguration marks the beginning of a day filled with presentations and eight discussion panels covering topics such as concession tenders, marine and coastal strategies, concession extensions, environmental management and biodiversity, large vessels, innovation and digitalisation, the European nautical market, and coordination, security, and emergencies.
The final segment of the II National Congress of Marinas in Spain will include a plenary session with representatives from the territorial associations of the Federation, culminating in the Pacto de Canarias por las Marinas, a declaration of principles and commitments towards sustainable, competitive marinas that are accessible to society.
The Pacto de Canarias for sustainable marinas
Adopted in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria during the Institutional Day of the II Congress of Marinas in Spain, the Pacto de Canarias for Marinas is a declaration of principles and commitments aimed at ensuring marinas are sustainable, competitive, and open to society. It recognises marinas and sports ports as strategic coastal infrastructures and as a service of general interest.
The pact advocates for loyal cooperation between administrations, public-private collaboration as a driver of investment and quality, and legal security alongside agile administration as prerequisites for investment and modernisation. It also includes commitments to protect the marine environment, progressively reduce emissions, open the sea to all, integrate marinas into urban areas and tourist destinations, promote quality training and employment, and consider the unique characteristics of island marinas. The declaration is open for free and voluntary adherence from administrations, entities, businesses, and individuals.
