Diego Mendiola, graduate in Biology from the University of Navarra, has directed the II Marine Cetacean Conservation Campaign in Santiago del Teide (Tenerife). The goal of project consists of monitoring the factors that are affecting the conservation of cetacean populations. "These species are increasingly threatened. The macro marinas, the increase of waste in the sea, the nautical excursions of tourists or the risk of collisions with Fast Ferries endanger their conservation", specifies Diego Mendiola.

Tenerife Conservation is the organization that for the second consecutive year has carried out this campaign. It is made up of biologists and graduates in Marine Sciences and collaborate from universities such as La Laguna, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Cadiz or the University of Navarra.

In addition to conferences, exhibitions, colloquiums and educational programs, the conservation campaign organizes trips to the sea to observe the marine fauna of this privileged place. "During the trips, within the strictest rules of respect for the tranquility of the animals, we take bioecological data of the species sighted," says Diego Mendiola.

A paradise for the research

This graduate in Biology is passionate about the sea and that is why he decided to go to the Canary Islands, where there is the greatest diversity of cetacean species in the world. "Tenerife is a paradise for the research and the observation of marine mammals, but at the same time it is the most threatened territory at the moment", he explains.

In 1999, Diego Mendiola worked in the project Life funded by the European Union, which had as goal to investigate the conservation of the biodiversity of the Canary Islands. Some of the members of this project believed that it would be interesting to create a parallel NGO that would contribute from the environmental Education and social awareness to the conservation of these species. Thus Diego Mendiola began to coordinate groups of university volunteers to participate in this project.