Alboran Sea

The Alboran Sea is a unique marine area. It is the confluence, through the Gibraltar Straight, of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic waters and it share its waters with Algeria, Morocco an Spain.

Its marine biodiversity and rich ecosystems are intrinsically linked to the particular oceanographic conditions that occur in this region and the spectacular geo-morphological diversity of its basin including volcanic formations and canyons. It is an obligatory passing place for numerous migratory animals like the cetaceans, birds and sea turtles or other species that have planktonic stages as part of their life cycle.

However, the Alboran is also crossed by thousands of oil tankers and other transport ferries sailing between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The Straight of Gibraltar is, as example, traversed by over 80,000 vessels every year. The threat that this creates together with the coastal and semi-industrial development, especially on its northern coast, increases the pressure on this semi-enclosed basin and significantly affects the conservation of marine species and communities.