Côte Bleue marine park

Territory :

The Marine National Park extends over the entire coastline of the Blue Coast, from l'Anse des Laurons to the west, to the Pointe des Corbières to the east, and on the adjacent marine environment up to 3 miles offshore. He intervenes in front of the municipalities of Martigues, Sausset les Pins, Carry-le-Rouet, Ensuès-la-Redonne and Rove. Départment of Bouches du Rhône, Région Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur.

Physical characteristic :

The Blue Coast is situated on the Nerthe massif, made up of sedimentary rocks of varied origin, secondary and tertiary. Bathymetry and underwater topography follow the landform and present a wide variety of aspects: steep falls to the east, rocky chaos and scree. The underwater relief softens to the west, with extensive sloping plateaus and sandy beaches. There are several submerged caves on the Blue Coast (falling Méjean, cliff Méjean, Vesse, Le Chinois, habitat of the «dark caves» and «semi-obscure caves»). The high frequency of winds (NO regime of Mistral and East) enhances the existence of strong alternating currents of East and West. They carry very plankton-rich waters, leading to high productivity and a wealth of fish.

Specificity and importance :

Among the habitats of Mediterranean interest, there are 26 biocenoses, facies or associations adopted under the M.A.P :

• Plants surveyed include 2 marine phanerogams and 313 algae
• Thousands of animal species, including 11 species of Community interest in Annex IV to the Habitats Directive and 2 species in Annex II.
• 220 species of fish belonging to 83 families
• 271 species of sponges and 227 species of bryozoans (including 116 species in underwater caves)
• More than 60 marine animal species present in the territory are protected by international agreements, 14 of which are protected at national level (Pinna nobilis, the Dolphin Tursiops truncatus, other Cetaceans, etc.)
• Several emblematic species (Cymodocea nodosa, Epinephelus marginatus, Hippocampus ramulosus seahorse) benefiting from national or local protection measures.

Of these species, 47 are listed in the Annexes to the SPAMI Protocol (excluding birds), of which 30 (5 marine plants and 25 animals) are listed in Annex II.

Threats and Pressures :

Maritime transport is important between the ports of Marseille and Fos sur mer (Grand Port Maritime de Marseille, between 30 and 50 ships/day). Apart from the risk of pollution due to heavy shipping, the main threats to habitats and species are linked to the high traffic in this area, due to the proximity of large urban centers such as Marseille (second city of France). Threats include anchoring pleasure craft, recreational fishing (on-board, on-board and underwater fishing), and use of certain dive sites.

Ecological characteristics :

The main marine habitats encountered on the Côte Bleue are: Posidonia oceanica meadows, occupying an area of about 1,200 ha (the largest meadow in the Bouches-du-Rhône), habitat «reefs» containing 5 elemental habitats, 37 associations or facies housing a large number of species of high heritage and fisheries value (Palinurus elephas lobster, dusky groupers Epinephelus marginatus and the brown meagre Sciaena umbra) remarkable facies of red coral (Corallium rubrum) and gorgonians (5 species), as well as many remarkable sponges and large erect bryozoans. The movable substrates (varied sands and detritus bottoms), which are majority beyond the isobathe 50 meters on the offshore part of the site, occupying more than 60% of the bottoms.

Management :

Syndicat Mixte « Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue », Observatoire du Parc Marin, Mr Boris Daniel, daniel.boris@parcmarincotebleue.fr

The main objective of the Blue Coast marine park concerns the conservation and management of marine resources, by promoting and developing the economic development of small craft fishing activities in the various ports of the Blue Coast. More specifically, the 4 main fields of action are:

• Management, protection and enhancement of marine and coastal natural environments
• The contribution to the economic and social development of activities related to the sea, and in particular of professional artisanal fishing
• Reception, information and education of the public, and in particular of schoolchildren
• Carrying out experimental or exemplary actions in the above fields, and contributing to applied scientific research programmes

Geographical position :

The Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue (PMCB) is located between the harbour of Marseille and the Gulf of Fos and includes the entire coastline of the Côte Bleue, mainly rocky. It stretches from the point of Corbières to the east (commune of Rove) to the cove of Laurons to the west (commune of Martigues).