Alboran Sea - Existing Protected Areas
In the Northern Riviera of the Alboran Sea (Spain) there are several coastal and marine protected sites.
For the creation of the Natura 2000 a combination of Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) via the Habitats Directive and/or as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) via the Birds Directive from the European Union has been declared within the north sea of Alboran. There are in total 34 SACs that cover a total of 118.913ha in a coastal environment.
The Parties to the Barcelona Convention have adopted the inclusion of several marine protected areas in the List of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI):
- The Natural Park of the Island of Alborán y underwater surroundings, 26457ha
- The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar, 49547 ha
- The Natural Monument and LIC of the underwater areas of Levante Almeriense, 6313ha
- The Natural Park of Acantilados de Maro Cerro-Gordo, 1815ha
In the Southern Riviera, Morocco has created the National Park of Al Hoceima, covering 48,000 ha of which the 19,600 ha covering the marine environment will be soon declared a SPAMI.
In Algeria, the Islands of Habibas at 8.7 km from the Cabe Cigala, have been declared Marine Nature Reserve in 2003 and as SPAMI 2005, covering 2740ha of marine environment.
Fisheries Reserves
Fisheries Reserves are protected areas created for conservation purposes and for the sustainable use of fisheries resources. Until present there exist two fisheries reserves within the Alboran Region:
- The Fishery Reserve of Cabo de Gata- Nijar since 1995
- The Fishery Reserve of the Alboran Island created in 1997, with a belt of 0.8 km
Wetlands
Most of the coastal wetlands of the Alboran Sea are under protection by International and National legislation.
In Spain, the most important wetlands are:
- Salt ponds of Cabo de Gata, Almería with two wetlands (437.5 ha in total), also Ramsar Site
- Cabe Entinas-Sabinar, Almería with three wetlands (804.4 ha en total), also Ramsar Site 1948ha
- Albufera Honda (15ha), Almería
- Albufera Nueva (32 ha), Almería
- Wetlands of Río Palmones (58ha), Cádiz
- Mouth of River Guadiaro (27ha), Málaga
- Mouth of River Guadalhorce (67 ha), Málaga
- Mouth of River Vélez (12,18 ha), Málaga
- Lake of Suárez (13.78 ha), Granada
In Morocco, the tree important wetlands are also declared Ramsar:
- Estuary of Moulouya (3000 ha)
- Lake of Nador (Sebkha Bou Areg) 14,000 ha (also Known as Mar Chica)
- Cabo Tres Forcas 5,000 ha
In Argelia, the Ramsar site of the Alboran Region is in:
- Macta marsh (Oran), 44500 ha
Others conservation areas
Another example of conservation strategy is the establishment of a “Maritime Traffic Restriction Zone” along the coastal site of the Cape of Gata in Almeria (Spain) that helps to protect an important zone for cetaceans, increasing traffic safety and reducing the risk of contamination events.
