From Lanzarote’s black coral to the island’s oceanic turquoise
“Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us” is the theme of this year’s World Oceans Day. The aim of this celebration is to learn about the richness of the sea in order to protect its colourful biodiversity. For those of us who live in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, these ideas are very familiar because, since time immemorial, the Atlantic has provided us with sustenance, inspiration and refuge. These are the colours of our ocean. Why not visit and get to know them?
Our infinite blue
On the islands of Lanzarote and La Graciosa the ocean is not only an idyllic setting, but part of our identity. With our endless coastline, which envelops us and provides us with beaches, inlets, pools and natural piers, how could we be anything other than sailors and seafarers? It’s in our nature. We breathe in the breeze while looking out to the horizon, we love to ensalitrarnos (leave the salt on our skin), we continue to fish as we have done for centuries, we sail instinctively, whether on a surfboard, a jolatero (a children’s boat made from a metal barrel), a sailing boat or a superyacht. We are as oceanic as the infinite blue that surrounds us.
This relationship with the sea has given us a special awareness of nature’s resources and of conservation. And Lanzarote has become an international benchmark for sustainable development, with multiple recognitions such as its declaration as a Biosphere Reserve.
In the case of the Chinijo Archipelago, recognition comes through the Marine Reserve of La Graciosa and Islotes del Norte de Lanzarote. This environmental figure recognises the work invested in conservation and the respect that exists for the marine ecosystems here. It is the largest reserve in Europe with more than 70,700 hectares of protected marine ecosystems. Crystal clear waters surround the islets of Montaña Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Alegranza, creating a refuge for marine species and migratory birds.
A visit to La Graciosa during your stay may be the best way to understand the philosophy behind the Reserve – the island breathes pride and an ordered and regulated approach to protecting and monitoring the enormous oceanic biodiversity with which we coexist.
Our green underwater forests
Don’t let yourself be fooled by Lanzarote’s desert and volcanic landscape, because beneath the surface, the island hides centenary forests of unknown extension. The Office of the Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve explains that they spread out, “imitating subtle forests of tamarix, which are transformed at depth into spikes of ice and whips of cotton“. This description is so poetic that it is an invitation to discover a new universe under the waters.
Immersion in a polychromatic world
Dare to explore the underwater world with the support of one of the establishments specialising in snorkelling and scuba diving. It’s well known that underwater activities provide a gratifying mix of peace, weightlessness and harmony with the marine environment. In Lanzarote you can choose from more than sixty dives in waters where six of the world’s seven species of turtles, silvery swarms of shrimps and up to 259 species of fish will swim alongside you.
You can also meet the very rare angel shark (Squatina squatina), which finds refuge on the sandy seafloor, and ancient corals, such as the gold coral (Savalia savaglia), documented in the north of Lanzarote, especially in La Graciosa.
The golden beaches of La Graciosa
La Graciosa is, in itself, a pictorial spectacle, with its white or golden sandy beaches contrasting with the surrounding turquoise waters. But nature on La Graciosa is much more than a picture postcard image. If you don’t believe us, try resting body and mind on the beaches of La Francesa; Las Conchas, with views of Montaña Clara; or La Cocina, at the foot of Montaña Amarilla. Fishing, diving, sailing, collecting shellfish, swimming… Melt into this conservation area, declared a natural park, and which pays homage to the sea that surrounds it in every daily gesture. The universal law known as the Graciosa effect states that humans always leave this island changed – different to how they arrived.
The black coral ecosystem
Lanzarote is known the world over for its spectacular volcanic nature, which has shaped the landscape, from the lava fields of the Timanfaya National Park to the cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic. And under its waters, Lanzarote is home to another treasure: its black coral forests. Playa Chica (Puerto del Carmen) is home to one of the most fascinating ecosystems in the whole of Macaronesia, where black coral (Antipathella wollastoni) forms habitats essential for marine biodiversity.
Its ecological importance is such that the area has been recognised by the Comité Internacional del Corredor Biológico Mundial (International Committee for a Global Biological Corridor) as the world’s Kilometre Zero for Black Coral Forests and has in fact become a natural laboratory for the European B-CHARMED project, which aims to ensure the survival of marine species and maintain the ecological balance of the Atlantic.
An exemplary sustainable destination
In Lanzarote and La Graciosa we were already “militating” for sustainable development when the word sustainability was not yet being heard in international forums. The artist César Manrique opened the door to the respectful and harmonious development of the island, which led to its declaration as a Biosphere Reserve in 1992. With this calling card and the ongoing work in all areas, the island society has continued to consolidate its benchmark position as a sustainable tourist destination and forms part of important international organisations such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, promoted by the UN.
Responsible tourism: Taking care of the sea
World Oceans Day is an opportunity for a conscious getaway, combining adventure, nature and environmental awareness. If you aspire to be this kind of visitor, here are some recommendations:
- Reduce the use of plastics: Opt for reusable products and avoid single-use plastics.
- Consume fish responsibly: Avoid the damage caused by overfishing by choosing locally caught, seasonal fish with a sustainability certificate.
- Use biodegradable products: Especially sunscreens that do not harm marine life.
- Support conservation initiatives: You can collaborate with projects that protect marine ecosystems, such as Puerto Calero’s “Eco Action Week” with a coastal clean-up day.
Now that you have become an islander like us… We’d love to welcome you to our different and oceanic islands!