The port of Cabo de Palos was the starting point of the navigation campaign, which covered more than 10 marine sites of the Natura 2000 Network to raise awareness of the benefits and opportunities of these areas.

Off the coast of the Region of Murcia there are eight such marine sites. One of them is the Site of Community Importance (SCI) Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila, located at the eastern end of the Murcian coastline, between Cabo de Palos and Portmán. This protected area of rugged cliffs, dunes and beautiful coves is an outstanding example of a well-preserved Mediterranean coastline, where the seabed relief gives rise to very rich and diverse biological communities.

It harbours seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica, a key species for the conservation of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem. The availability of high-quality food in this coastal zone makes it part of the migratory routes of cetaceans and marine turtles.

Among the species inhabiting its waters are the fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*), the loggerhead turtle (*Caretta caretta*), the bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*), and the red gorgonian (*Paramuricea clavata*), colonies of organisms that serve as resting and refuge areas for other animals.

On the morning of 9 May, at the Cabo de Palos–Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve Office, a public information session was held to present the project and highlight the values of the Natura 2000 Network. In the afternoon, a meeting was held with representatives of the fisheries, tourism and other local sectors to exchange experiences and discuss the opportunities for sustainable development offered by these protected areas.

On 10 May, the programme continued with a guided boat tour of the protected area of Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila, allowing participants to discover the diversity of marine and terrestrial habitats in the area, as well as the importance of preserving them for future generations.

to download EN: Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del Águila (Murcia) brochure

Brochure on the Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila SCI and other marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network in the Region of Murcia.[CR1]
[CR1]Link to the PDF saved in the folder “Brochures english””