Us

About us

For many years the misuse and detrimental management of marine resources has reduced the natural capacity of the oceans for self-healing. This process of constant degradation is seriously endangering humanities overall health. It is a global problem that can be corrected with practical action that have a positive impact and that are part of this planetary challenge solution.

The oceans are huge economic assets that are in a critical condition. The area of action of the members of friends of the ocean ranges from the regional to the international, being aware that we have to take on this responsibility, acting within our community to prevent and tackle problems, working side by side, for both companies, organizations and public institutions. It is necessary to forge new alliances to improve the health, wealth and well-being of people. The oceans are the answer to these threats and not the problem.

Friends of the ocean is a global, non-governmental, non-profit community based in the Canary Islands. We place ourselves at the service of global cooperation and talent to promote the transition to a sustainable ocean economy that combines economic development and environmental protection.

We want to set up an efficient associative structure that contributes to preventing and reducing the quantity and impact of waste that reaches the marine environment. Our goal is to enjoy a sustainable, healthy and productive Atlantic Ocean.

What do we do

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Contribute to conserving our oceans and seas as healthy and sustainable living environments through effective collaboration strategies.

Mission

We provide a global platform to cooperate and inspire people, organizations and institutions to put into practice solutions that mitigate the current environmental problem caused by the presence of marine litter, plastics and microplastics in the Atlantic Ocean.

Values

Leadership, insight, diversity, collaborative spirit and perseverance.

Scientific advice

Scientific research is the basis of knowledge of the marine environment. We are entrepreneurs. We understand the maritime sector but we do not have the scientific knowledge to fully understand the challenges we face..

The friends of the ocean Scientific Committee helps us define and clarify the doubts that arise, as well as prioritize the most important areas of work for the coming years.

Daura Vega Moreno

Deep PLAS

Doctora en Ciencas del Mar, cuenta con 15 años de experiencia en el campo del análisis químico medioambiental y control de parámetros físico-químicos en el océano, especializada en tecnologías marinas.
 
Actualmente participa en el proyecto liderado por la ULPGC en colaboración el Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias y el Instituto Español de Oceanografía sobre el estudio de la presencia de microplásticos en Canarias no solo el la superficie sino también en las profundidades.

Antera Martel Quintana

Spanish Algae Bank

Researcher in Algal Biotechnology at the Institute of Oceanography and Global Change and the Spanish Algae Bank, Master in Applied Algology and PhD in Marine Sciences (1993). She did her scientific training at the Department of Botanical Physiology (Uppsala University, Sweden) and at the University of Florida (Miami, USA).

Currently, she is Co-Director and Curator of the Spanish Algae Bank and has experience in biotechnology, physiology, cultivation and conservation of microalgae and cyanobacteria biodiversity.

May Gómez

Microtrofic Project

Degree in Marine Biology in 1986 from the University of La Laguna, PhD in Oceanography from the ULPGC. Professor of Zoology at IU-ECOAQUA. Director of the Doctorate School of the ULPGC.

Expert in University Teaching in June 2014 by the ULPGC. Vice-Dean of Teaching Quality (2000-2002), Vice-Dean of Academic Organisation (2004-2009) of the Faculty of Marine Sciences and Director of the Doctorate (2005-2010) and Master’s programmes in Oceanography (2006-2009).

Coordinator of the research group in Ecophysiology of Marine Organisms (EOMAR) with A+ productivity of the ULPGC. Award for Excellence in Teaching Quality from the DOCENTIA programme of the ULPGC.