On its final stop, the nautical journey of the LIFE A-MAR project reached Andalusia, specifically the coast of Almería, to highlight one of the Mediterranean’s most unique marine areas: the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 4 June, an awareness-raising campaign was held on board the sailing boat, moored at the San José Marina. The event was open to the public and aimed at showcasing the wealth of protected marine areas and their importance for the conservation of the Mediterranean
On the morning of Thursday 5 June, guided sailing tours took place through the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, departing from San José harbour. These tours allowed participants and visitors to discover first-hand the beauty and biodiversity of one of Andalusia’s most important marine environments.
Marine Areas of the Natura 2000 Network in Andalusia
Off the coast of Andalusia lie 25 of these marine sites. The nautical campaign visited the Cabo de Gata-Níjar area, located in Almería
It stands out as Andalusia’s first land and sea natural park, protecting over 50,000 hectares across terrestrial and marine zones. Its rocky and sandy seabeds are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna adapted to its arid climate. It is a crucial site for both migratory and resident birds and contains key marine habitats, such as seagrass meadows of *Posidonia oceanica*, essential for the conservation of marine biodiversity. This area has been designated as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO Global Geopark, and a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI).
Some of the protected species inhabiting its waters include: the Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), the ribbed Mediterranean limpet (Patella ferruginea)—one of the most endangered invertebrates—the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), the red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata), also known as “sea fans”, and extensive meadows of Posidonia oceanica.
To Download: Cabo de Gata-Níjar (Almería) brochure
Brochure on the Cabo de Gata-Níjar SAC (Almería) and other marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network in Andalusia.[CA1]
[CA1]Link to the PDF saved in the folder “Brochure english”
