The new episode of OCEAN, the Euronews documentary series produced in collaboration with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), is now available and features the European project TWINNEDbySTARS. Broadcast on 29 July in more than 160 countries, the episode is dedicated to sea-friendly tourism and shows how the outermost regions of the Atlantic are committed to a development model based on knowledge, authenticity and sustainability.
From underwater archaeology to whale watching tours guided by scientists, the report shows that another kind of tourism is possible: one that does not destroy the natural and cultural heritage of the ocean, but protects and values it. In contrast to the model of mass tourism that has sparked protests this summer in cities such as Barcelona and Venice, TWINNEDbySTARS proposes a real transformation of holiday experiences in coastal areas.
TWINNEDbySTARS, funded by the European Commission, connects small and medium-sized enterprises in the nautical sector in the Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira and Martinique, promoting the design and testing of new sustainable and multi-destination tourism products. These experiences are based on respect for the marine environment and connection with local heritage, integrating science, culture and enjoyment of the ocean from a responsible perspective.
‘The marine ecosystem, like the terrestrial ecosystem, is constantly exposed to human activities. The key lies precisely in corporate social responsibility to operate in the best possible way in the marine environment. TWINNEDbySTARS was created with this objective in mind, so that we can grow responsibly and generate less pressure on the environment,’ says Yen E. Lam, coordinator of the TWINNEDbySTARS project.
© Euronews/European Commission, 2025.
The Euronews team travelled to two of the islands involved in the project to learn more about the initiatives that form part of this network of transformation. In Tenerife, they visited Biosean, one of the companies participating in TWINNEDbySTARS. Founded by marine biologist Misael Morales Vargas, Biosean offers whale watching excursions with a scientific focus and a minimal environmental footprint. Instead of large commercial vessels, they use quiet inflatable boats and small groups, where each outing is also an educational experience.
The most special moment comes with the use of the hydrophone, an underwater microphone that allows visitors to hear the clicks and whistles of the cetaceans live. ‘There is an environmental emergency, and we need to create opportunities like this that can change people’s mindsets. We need them to see nature as part of us, not as something isolated,’ Morales Vargas points out during the episode.
In Faial, in the Azores archipelago, OCEAN journalists embarked with the company Naturalist, also involved in TWINNEDbySTARS. Their guides combine scientific knowledge and respectful observation of marine fauna, bringing visitors closer to the world of cetaceans in an intimate and conscious way. The proposal not only seeks to offer a memorable experience, but also to contribute to a change in the way we understand our relationship with the ocean.
‘We want to be role models in trying to create products that other companies can also use to strengthen these links between science and tourism and use better data, because with these companies, we are in the ocean every day and we get real data over long periods of time,’ explained Gisela Dionísio, marine biologist at Naturalist.
The episode also highlights other relevant synergies, such as the ecoRoute project, which focuses on promoting underwater heritage in peripheral regions through responsible diving and coastal archaeology. These types of initiatives reinforce the ecosystem of actors who, like TWINNEDbySTARS, are leading the change towards more conscious tourism in the Atlantic.
The full episode of OCEAN is available in several languages on the Euronews website:
The full report is now available in several languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, allowing audiences from different regions to learn first-hand about the experiences promoted by TWINNEDbySTARS and understand how coastal tourism can be transformed into a positive force for the ocean.
With this international visibility, TWINNEDbySTARS takes another step towards positioning itself as a European benchmark in the creation of marine tourism experiences that are sustainable, cooperative and aligned with the current challenges facing the ocean.