Last week marked our second Community of Practice (CoP) meeting, hosted at the pilot site of El Hierro in the Canary Islands. We were warmly received by La Cofradía de Pescadores Nuestra Señora de Los Reyes and the Pescarestinga Cooperative, whose extensive experience and enduring dedication to marine stewardship shaped a rich and productive three-day workshop.

Key moments from the week included:

• Exploring La Restinga’s spectacular seascape, local heritage, and vibrant marine biodiversity
• Experiencing local fishing methods and resource management practices first-hand, and gaining deeper insight into the factors behind the resilience of the El Hierro model, particularly its connection to the Punta de la Restinga-Mar de Las Calmas and the island’s Biosphere Reserve
• Expanding our understanding of commercialization strategies and lessons learned across pilot sites, through contributions from GOB Menorca and experience-based insights from the Cofradia and Pescarestinga, and shared experiences from Cap Roux and Finland pilot sites
• Refining our research protocol with valuable input from CoP researchers and on-the-ground practitioners, advancing our collective work on assessing and reinforcing resilience in high-biodiversity areas
• Strengthening relationships and shared knowledge within the Community of Practice through peer learning and collective exchange

We extend our sincere thanks to all hosts and participants for their generosity, expertise, and enthusiasm, which made this gathering both impactful and inspiring. We are excited to continue this shared journey toward greater resilience in socioecological landscapes and seascapes.