Researchers detect how haze and storms cause an explosion of life on the seabed of Gran Canaria
The ULPGC is monitoring the increase in toxins generated by microalgae in the islands, which end up being discharged into the fish consumed by humans.
The use of artificial intelligence to predict ocean evolution, the unexpected effect of calima (Saharan dust storms) on marine life in the Canary Islands, and the increase in algae toxins that can end up in fish consumed by humans are just some of the major topics that researchers are presenting to the public at this 15th edition of the International Sea Fair (FIMAR), taking place these days at the Sanapú dock in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The characteristics of animal species inhabiting the islands' waters, plastic pollution in the ocean, and bird behavior in Canarian waters are other topics being discussed at FIMAR 2026, many of them presented by young speakers from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC).
Fimar, which takes place from May 22 to 24 in Sanapú, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is an event promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Ports of Las Palmas, and organized by Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria and the City of the Sea council of the capital of Gran Canaria.
AI prediction for the oceans
Giovanny Alejandro Cuervo Londoño, a doctoral student and researcher at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), presented his talk, "Predicting the Ocean with AI," on Saturday, May 23rd. He discussed predictions of ocean evolution using new technological tools. Cuervo, who works under the supervision of Javier Sánchez Pérez, Professor of Computer Science, and Ángel Rodríguez, Professor of Marine Sciences, highlighted the constant improvement in climate prediction techniques.
Thus, he commented, with a network of 1.920 computers, a ten-day weather forecast has already been made in just one hour. However, all of this pales in comparison to “the new revolution of neural networks.” That is, the use of artificial intelligence. This technology emerged around 2022, when new intelligent models appeared, driven by companies like Huawei, Google, and Microsoft. Given the success of these methods, the European Meteorological Service has begun to adopt them: they can now be run on a single computer, “with predictions made in just one minute.”
“It’s about evaluating which of all the possible futures is the most likely,” Cuervo stated. Regarding the Canary Islands, the researcher pointed out that properly trained neural networks already provide a more than acceptable prediction of water trends, “with a high success rate.” However, this is always only true for “ten or fifteen days.” Currently, the research team is working on reducing errors: “Now,” he added, “we are trying to make longer-term predictions, to know what will happen in the future with greater certainty.”
Cuervo indicated that “we are facing a complex limit that all models must overcome. We are trying to determine whether AI is truly learning physics, or if, on the contrary, it is simply learning patterns and replicating what it has observed.” However, he added, significant progress will “certainly” be achieved in the near future. The researcher noted that “major technology companies and global meteorological organizations are all working on this together, and it is very likely that substantial progress will be made in just a few years.”
The impacts of haze on marine life
Mélisande Payet, a French student conducting research at the ECOAQUA University Institute of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), warned in her presentation (What we don't see… but is being altered) about the appearance of new zooplankton a few days "or a week" after a calima episode in the islands. This "short period of time" is sufficient for this new element to enter the food chain in the waters.
The suspended dust has also led to the observation of chlorophyll spikes generated by plant species in the sea off Gran Canaria. Payet confirmed a veritable "biological revolution" last April in the Canary Islands, with new species invading the ocean and altering the previous ecosystem.
The researcher will present her work in the coming months at the French University of Toulon, where she will also compare her results with those obtained in the Mediterranean ecosystem. “In the Canary Islands,” she explained, “we have two very important phenomena that will be amplified by global warming: storms and haze.” These episodes often pose a real problem for the human population, “but in the ocean, they are beneficial because they allow for water renewal, an increase in atmospheric particles, and a significant increase in nutrients.”
These include phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are in turn consumed by smaller fish and ultimately feed the entire food chain. Payet warned that this process will require close monitoring in the future, "to understand how the environment will evolve under global warming."
Microalgae toxins
Raquel Patricia Puig Lozano spoke about the IUSA: The CSI of the Sea. The researcher from the University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria explained the outreach work of this organization "to bring science to the public." Among its activities is research into the health of aquatic animals in the islands. And this work includes monitoring toxins produced by microalgae (ciguatoxins), which are transferred to fish and end up in human food: a recent problem in the archipelago that can lead to serious cases, although the most common cases are simple food poisoning.
The institute already inspects the marketing of fish at fish markets, and also asks amateur fishermen to provide samples of their catch before consumption, with the organization itself assuming the cost of the procedure.
Puig confirmed that "these types of diseases are increasing and affecting a growing number of fish" in Canary Island waters, based on observations spanning the last twelve years. "Given the ongoing concern about the rising number of cases, we are making a public appeal," he stated, "especially to fishermen, asking them to send us muscle samples from fish of certain sizes and species to detect ciguatoxin and try to improve diagnosis and prevention."
The IUSA, through its epidemiology group, also evaluates cases of poisoning in animals stranded on the coasts, conducting necropsies that help detect new cases of diseases in marine species. The institute's work includes the study of birds in the marine environment of the Canary Islands, which is regularly shared with the regional government. And it maintains the cetacean stranding network in the archipelago, which, at 34 years old, is the oldest in Spain.
At this point, Puig commented that “the vast majority of cetaceans die in the Canary Islands from natural causes, which doesn't negate the fact that our activity negatively impacts their lives, such as the noise from ships, the litter we generate, or fuel spills at sea.” He also reminded everyone that to initiate the stranding assistance operation, any citizen who spots one of these cases only needs to call 112.
Fair in full swing
The second day of Fimar 2026 kicked off this Saturday, May 23, with a steady stream of visitors and increasing activity at the stands of the 61 exhibitors. Companies in the marine and maritime sector, nautical activities, and fashion have already attracted a large number of visitors, who can also benefit from the outreach efforts of public institutions, various faculties and entities of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), and sports associations and clubs.
Simultaneously, a group of young researchers has been presenting various aspects of their work in talks open to the public in the designated area at the fair. Families and younger attendees have also joined in the fair's activities, which include a wide range of events in its children's area.
The displays on the Sanapú water surface, the boat tours inside the dock and the sea baptisms have filled the agenda of activities in Fimar, which also has a gastronomic area so that nothing is missing in an event that will continue to take place in the Port during the day of Sunday, May 24, until 15:00 p.m.
The complete Fimar program, its exhibitors, and its talks and presentations can be found on the official website of the fair, at the following link. https://feriainternacionaldelmar.com/.
