• Island Councillor Minerva Alonso highlighted “the importance of this fair in our plan for Gran Canaria.”
• Councillor for the capital of Gran Canaria, Pedro Quevedo, emphasised the relevance of FIMAR as a strategic event to “create and promote maritime culture among the citizens and boost the blue economy.”
• Port Authority President Beatriz Calzada said the event will occupy “a large space in our Puerto-Ciudad area, which will be transformed into a great green lung for all citizens.”

The Councillor for Economic Development, Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Minerva Alonso; the Councillor for Local Development, Employment, Solidarity, Tourism, Mobility and City of the Sea of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, Pedro Quevedo; and the President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Beatriz Calzada, presented a new edition of the International Sea Fair this Monday, June 3rd. FIMAR 2024 will be held on the 7th, 8th and 9th of June in a new location, Muelle Sanapú, between the Poema del Mar aquarium and the Onda Atlántica walkway, once again as the regional reference event for professionals in the nautical and marine-maritime sector, and as an event promoting the blue economy and maritime culture.

The International Sea Fair is promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, and the Port Authority of Las Palmas. It is organised by the City of the Sea Council of the city and Infecar, Gran Canaria Fair.

More than 50 exhibitors have already registered for this 13th edition of the fair, which will feature around 80 stands, a vast programme of leisure activities for citizens, a children’s area and a food zone, making it an excellent event for the blue economy in the city and the island. The Portuguese town of Viana do Castelo will be the guest city at FIMAR 2024, featuring a parade and a Canarian band Los Coquillos performance. The fair’s opening hours, with free admission, will be from 10:30 to 20:00 on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th, and from 10:30 to 15:00 on Sunday 9th.

The Councillor for Economic Development, Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Minerva Alonso, noted that FIMAR is “very important in the plan we have for this island.” The aim of the fair, she recalled, “is to boost the blue economy, create a meeting space for companies, and also a place for citizens to enjoy, where informative talks are also crucial.”

In this vein, the island councillor added, “We want FIMAR to become an event with a wide range of activities related to the sea, where informative talks will play a significant role, with a broad roster of experts present at the fair.”

Alonso indicated that this 2024 edition of the International Sea Fair will have about 50 companies registered and nearly 80 exhibitors. Various firms and entities will be able to showcase their activities, products, or even their research work in an environment open to citizens.

Finally, Minerva Alonso thanked all the support and collaborations “that make the fair possible,” regarding the participation of firms and companies present at the event and the academic institutions and public administrations “that we collaborate with in the entire organisation.” Regarding attendance expectations, she pointed out that “this year, we aim to surpass the attendance of the previous edition, which was around 15,000 attendees.”

City of the Sea Councillor Pedro Quevedo highlighted that FIMAR continues to respect its founding objectives: “To create and promote maritime culture among the citizens, and boost the economic development of the blue economy.”

Furthermore, he stressed that “the work done so far and institutional cooperation have allowed the city to open up to the sea. We can boast quality, sustainable and innovative beaches, but also inclusive maritime leisure, such as surfing, sailing, and diving, and a consolidated maritime and tourism economy associated with the sea through institutions like the Port and companies associated with the Cluster and FEMEPA. And, of course, the research work from the ULPGC and professionals that allow us to use science to manage the environment.”

Quevedo reminded that the capital has advanced in the blue economy while maintaining and respecting its coastal and littoral identity, citing two examples: the Canarian Vela Latina and the fishing neighbourhood of San Cristóbal.

Similarly, he expressed his intention from the City Council to “continue developing smart beaches,” as has been done in recent years on the capital’s sands, a pioneering city in implementing these tools.”

For her part, the President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Beatriz Calzada, underlined that “the Port of Las Palmas offers an incomparable setting to host the International Sea Fair, where maritime culture, environmental awareness and the blue economy take precedence.” In this regard, she asserted that the Port of Las Palmas is an economic engine for the Archipelago, Gran Canaria, and its capital, “it is a powerful generator of employment and wealth and the ideal place to establish marine-maritime business relationships, which is one of the objectives pursued by FIMAR.”

Calzada emphasised that Muelle Sanapú, the location chosen for this year’s fair, is particularly significant “as it is part of the Puerto-Ciudad project we are developing, which will become a friendly area integrated into the city for citizens’ enjoyment.” She recalled that the surroundings of Muelle Santa Catalina and Sanapú will be transformed into “a great green lung of 25,000 square metres, with port identity,” where the future Port Museum and a Dual Vocational Training centre will be housed.

Additionally, Beatriz Calzada explained that, as part of the activities offered by FIMAR, the Port Authority of Las Palmas provides guided boat tours through the inner waters of the Port of Las Palmas. These tours will be at 11:00, 13:00, 15:30 and 17:30 on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th, and at 11:00 and 13:00 on Sunday 9th.

She also noted that two ships would be displayed to the public. Specifically, the ‘Meteor’ ship of the Navy and the ‘Miguel de Cervantes’ ship of Maritime Rescue, located at Muelle Sanapú.

Objectives of the Fair

FIMAR aims to offer the sector a specialised event that concentrates on supply and demand, promotes and establishes business relationships, boosts the blue economy in the Canary Islands, raises awareness and education on marine science and sustainability, and promotes our maritime traditions and sea culture.

FIMAR represents Nautical activities, leisure and water sports, education, marine science and research, public institutions, and other providers of the marine industry, including the nautical fashion sector.

This edition of the fair will also emphasise the concept of sustainable marine leisure, making economic and social promotion activities on beaches and the coast compatible with environmental conservation and biodiversity care.

Programme Preview: Los Coquillos Concert and Parade

The FIMAR 2024 programme (as always, with free admission) includes demonstrations on the water surface of the Port, family activities and a children’s area, a helicopter rescue demonstration by the Canary Islands Air Command, boat tours of the Port (no registration required, first-come, first-served) and visits to Navy, Maritime Rescue, and Civil Guard ships.

The fair also features a gastronomic area. The agenda includes a concert by the band Los Coquillos on the last day, June 9th, at 13:00. This day also includes a parade at noon on Sunday in the FIMAR venue.

Additionally, within FIMAR’s educational aspect, special mention should be made of the talks and presentations open to the public. Nearly thirty lectures will be delivered in this edition in a format adapted to the event in a clear, engaging, and accessible tone.

The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria provides an extensive list of speakers. From those integrated with the faculties of Marine Sciences or Philology to those linked to the Spanish Algae Bank, the University Institute of Aquaculture Research (ECOAQUA), the Oceanography and Global Change Institute (IOCAG), or the Animal Health and Food Safety Institute (IUSA). The Canary Islands Oceanic Platform (PLOCAN) will also be in a panel reserved for RedPROMAR and the Canarian Association of Maritime Collectors.

Experts will share their knowledge on topics such as climate change evolution, the “algae revolution,” the Canary Islands’ status as the “ideal laboratory” to assess the planet’s climate transformation, the impact of microplastic ingestion on fish, marine biodiversity, or research in the oceans and poles.

Viana do Castelo, Guest City

The Portuguese city of Viana do Castelo will be this year’s guest city at FIMAR. With a strong marine and port tradition, this Northern Portuguese city will have its representation at an event directly connected to its historical past, as a strategic node in the tremendous Portuguese discoveries, and its present, where surfing and port activity have a significant presence. Viana do Castelo was the European City of Sport last year and has four specialised surfing, rowing, canoeing, and sailing centres.

Indeed, Ciudad de Mar has organised a parallel programme before the fair: a series of technical sessions called Impulso Azul on Thursday, June 6th, starting at 10:00 at the Marine-Maritime Innovation Centre.

These sessions, co-organised by the Gran Canaria Economic Promotion Society (SPEGC), the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, and INFECAR, aim to exchange experiences and promote student exchanges between the two European cities, with the ocean economy as the foundation.

The Councillor for Ciudad de Mar reminded the public that the day is open and will include institutional representatives and the surfing community from this Portuguese city. Topics will include wave sports, nautical tourism, and student exchanges through the Erasmus Plus programme.

Master Lecture by Manuel Carlier

Another complementary activity to the fair will be the master lecture by Doctor of Naval and Ocean Engineering Manuel Carlier, titled ‘Maritime Transport: Importance for the Global Economy and Medium-Term Trends,’ scheduled for this Tuesday, June 4th (18:30), at the Marine-Maritime Innovation Centre (CIMM) located in the Fundación Puertos de Las Palmas Building.

You can register for this free lecture on the Gran Canaria Economic Promotion Society (SPEGC) website at this link.

Organisation and Collaborating Entities

FIMAR is promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, and the Port Authority of Las Palmas and is organised by the City of the Sea Council and Infecar, Gran Canaria Fair.

In the organisation of FIMAR, the following entities collaborate: the Department of Primary Sector, Food Sovereignty and Water Security of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the Provincial Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Metal and New Technologies of Las Palmas (FEMEPA), the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, REDPROMAR (the Government of the Canary Islands Network for Monitoring and Surveillance of Marine Life in Macaronesia), the Government of the Canary Islands, the Poema del Mar Aquarium, the Municipal Institute of Employment and Training of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council (IMEF), and Coca Cola.

Press Accreditations: Media interested in covering the International Sea Fair, FIMAR 2024, can collect their accreditations at the technical office stand on Friday, June 7th, between 10:00 and 11:00.

Link to the FIMAR 2024 programme