WCC 2020 Res 022 - Activity Report

Collaboration and Working Group Formation
Following the European Parliament events, efforts are underway to establish a working group with representatives from the Canary Islands, Madeira, Cape Verde, and the Azores. This group will coordinate efforts to extend the military sonar moratorium and consolidate regional commitments to marine conservation.

Awareness and Outreach
The successful touring exhibition featuring life-sized inflatable cetaceans has been pivotal in engaging over 10,000 visitors across the Canary Islands. This exhibition highlighted the impacts of military sonar on marine life and promoted the need for a comprehensive moratorium.

In October 2023, we organized two major events at the European Parliament:
The exhibition "From Red to Green: Preserving Europe's Most Biodiverse Region" highlighted the ecological significance of the Macaronesia and called for stronger protection measures for marine biodiversity.
The event "Echoes of Protection: Extending the Military SONAR Moratorium to Macaronesia"specifically advocated for extending the successful military sonar moratorium currently in place in the Canary Islands to the rest of the Macaronesia. This included participation from stakeholders across the region and policymakers.