Project location

Southern Coastal Waters of Tenerife, Teno Rasca Marine Strip

Project duration and start

1 year, 2010

Project sponsor

Founded by All Members of Futouris

Project description

Up to 22 whale types currently reside in the area of Teno Tasca Marina on Tenerife’s southwest coast, of the Canary Island archipelago. The high possibility of experiencing whales in their natural surroundings draws tourists from all over the world to the region. It is anticipated that the current “whale habitat” will deteriorate to a temporary “optional whale” habitat for these exceptional ocean dwellers, due to the massive visitor numbers on excursion boats to whale observation locations.

The Futouris Commitment: “The tourist destroys by finding what he is looking for“– this diffused opinion amongst tourism critics, especially applies when, that which was “found” turns into a tourist attraction in a short period of time. Whale observation boat trips belong to Tenerife’s most loved excursion attractions. Various attempts are being made to introduce awareness programs for whale observation.

After some whale observation boats, equipped with nature awareness programs, had to discontinue their business due to a lack of acceptance, an idea came into being - to attempt a new approach in conjunction with the tourism industry. As a result, the local NGO Buena Proa became a Futouris Support Project and a TUI Deutschland Foster Project in 2009.

The successful collaboration during the support year convinced the Futouris members. In 2010 the members chose the NGO’s follow-up program as Project of the Year, and in doing so declared their dedication to collaborative whale protection with the local players on Tenerife.

This means that in collaborative solidarity, the members represented at Futouris, their local agencies as well as scientists and relevant players that the continued whale protection should be addressed and established. Involved in the implementation is, aside from the association Buena Proa the Tenerife based university La Laguna. The current support year is seen as a pilot phase, whose success will determine continued co-operation with Futouris.