• Antonio Morales, President of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria: “The blue economy is a strategic issue for the sustainable development of Gran Canaria and also for its internationalisation”.
• Augusto Hidalgo, Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: “We want to spearhead the project we have developed in the city with the smart beaches”.
• Luis Ibarra, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas: “We have made great progress in recent years in the area closest to the city, to make Las Palmas de Gran Canaria a unique space”.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 15 June 2023 – The International Maritime Fair (FIMAR) opened its twelfth edition this Friday, 16 June, in the presence of Antonio Morales, president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria; Augusto Hidalgo, mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; and Luis Ibarra, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas. The fair, which occupies some 12,000 square metres in the surroundings of the Muelle Santa Catalina, began to receive a large public from the morning, consolidated as the great reference for the marine, maritime and nautical sector in the islands. And also as a great meeting forum for companies and institutions linked to the sector, this year also provided an opportunity for the projection of ‘Smart beach’ initiatives, related to the development of intelligent beaches.

The International Sea Fair, which runs from 16 to 18 June, is an event promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council and the Port Authority of Las Palmas, and organised by the Department of Ciudad de Mar of the capital of Gran Canaria and Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria.

The president of the Cabildo, Antonio Morales, indicated that “the blue economy is a strategic issue for Gran Canaria, and also this FIMAR event, which is a joint initiative of the Cabildo, the City Council and the Port of Las Palmas”. Morales emphasised the section on “internationalisation, because it is a question of opening up spaces for the local sector, but also for the external impact of Gran Canaria in this context of the blue economy”.

In this regard, he stressed the need to continue exploring “the possibilities of the sea to generate a sustainable economy, in areas such as technology, research, transport, leisure…”. And also in relation to “sport and the possibility of sustainable tourism”.

Morales stressed that “more and more companies are joining these proposals, and more and more citizens are interested in them”, recalling that “almost 17,000 people visited FIMAR last year”.

He referred to the International Maritime Fair as “a consolidated event, which also speaks of shared work between the different institutions, of dialogue with civil society, and of course, of promoting the development of a sustainable economic model for the island, linked to the sea, which is what surrounds us, and which undoubtedly opens up enormous possibilities for the future”.

The Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Augusto Hidalgo, also referred to FIMAR as “an event that is already consolidated”: an event that last year generated a turnover of half a million euros. In this sense, he made special emphasis on the importance of technology in coastal management, in which the city has advanced with the promotion of smart beaches.

Hidalgo pointed out that “with the ‘Smart Beach’ project we want to be at the forefront. Today we can see the state of our beaches in real time, thanks to technology, when until now we have needed certifications. We can now know at the moment what the quality of our waters, our ports, our sands, how is the air or what is the occupation of people”.

“We can know all this in real time thanks to the sensorisation of the beaches, a project that we have promoted and which is on display at this edition of FIMAR. The mayor commented that “citizens want to know how their coasts are, their beaches, and that is something we are going to continue to promote”. Smart Beach’, he added, “will be one of the most outstanding sections” in this FIMAR 2023.

Hidalgo expressed his conviction that the fair “is going to be a success again this year, and will continue to be a reference for the entire marine-maritime world in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands, but also in Spain”.

The president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Luis Ibarra, formally welcomed the fair, and thanked the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria “for their collaboration in FIMAR, which is now in its twelfth edition: I believe that this is something that should be valued”.

Ibarra highlighted “all the progress we have made in recent years, and not only in promoting the blue economy, working together with the sector”. Thus, the President of the Port wished to highlight all that has been carried out in the area closest to the city, to make Las Palmas de Gran Canaria a unique space”.

Ibarra also recalled that in FIMAR “we are now in a rented space, because we have already demolished the old Jet Foil station, and we are going to build a new cruise ship station, which is expected to be finished in two years. Here, in addition,” he added, “we will have a large green area and a palm grove, with the walkway, the aquarium, the new area for unloading fresh fish with the San Cristóbal Fishermen’s Guild and the new area for repairing yachts and sports boats, which will be inaugurated this year. And we still have a large park of 20,000 square metres, which will be a reality in 2026”.

“I believe,” he commented, “that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Gran Canaria have given a great example of knowing how to work together over the years. FIMAR is obviously a very important event, and I believe that in the future we will continue to enjoy this environment, and the relationship of the blue economy with the island and the city”.

The big event for the marine, maritime and nautical sector

FIMAR 2023 has opened its doors to present a wide range of leisure, informative and business activities throughout the weekend. In this, its twelfth edition, the International Maritime Fair opens with 81 stands installed throughout the exhibition site, and with 56 companies and public institutions whose activity is linked to the sea as exhibitors.

Last year, the fair moved an estimated volume of 500,000 euros, confirming itself as a key event for the main players in the blue economy in the city and the island to show the public their products, services, skills and knowledge. It is also a meeting point for the exchange of ideas and contact between companies and institutions.

Leisure plan

The fair, which is free of charge, offers the public a wide range of leisure activities, including boat and pedalo excursions on the water surface of the Port, sailing and lateen sailing sea baptisms, water exhibitions and regattas with different types of boats (including Adapted Sailing) or excursions on the tourist bus through the interior of the port area.

All these activities are also free, on a first-come, first-served basis and until full capacity is reached. And they are repeated regularly throughout the fair, which concludes in the middle of the day on Sunday, 18th June.

Children’s area

FIMAR 2023 also offers families an extensive plan of activities for the youngest members of the family, including children under three years of age. Educational workshops, family handicrafts with recycled materials, skateboards, XL format games and various activities complete this agenda, focused exclusively on children.

Catering area

An area of the fair is also reserved as a food and beverage area for the public. Several food trucks provide this service throughout the opening day of the fair, with different types of food and areas reserved for eating.

Informative talks

FIMAR also presents an interesting agenda of informative talks, with the presence of more than twenty experts in different areas linked to the sea and the blue economy. Climate change, sustainable development, marine life, biodiversity, beach activities and even history are some of the topics to be addressed by specialists and teachers. Many of them are linked to the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The talks are also free to attend, in one of the main marquees of the fair.

All the details of the full programme can be consulted on the official website of the International Sea Fair: https://feriainternacionaldelmar.com.