Habibas islands

Schéma ISEA :

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Territory :

Oran

Physical characteristic :

The Habibas Islands are composed of two main islets and several rocks, covering 40 ha of land. The marine area covers 2684 ha. From a geological and sedimentary point of view, they consist of volcanic rocks and calcareous sediments lining the perimeter of the islands. The plateau of the Habibas Islands has mixed shell vases located on the circalittoral bottom where they fit between the organogenic shelled sediments and the detritus sands of the coasts. These mixed shell vases are composed of debris, calcareous algae, Lamellibranches, Gastropods, Echinoderms and Foraminifers. The coast to the south of the Habibas is very cut out with a succession of capes (from east to west, cape Linldès, cape Nègre, cape Blanc also called Sigale, cape Figalo).

Specificity and importance :

The Habibas Islands are home to terrestrial and marine habitats critical to biodiversity. Threatened birds nest or stay there during migration. In physico-chemical terms, the Habibas are subjected to the confluence of the Atlantic current known as the thermal front Almeria-Oran, developing a Mediterranean ecosystem strongly influenced by the Atlantic current. Having a fragile balance, accentuated by a volcanic geomorphology, these islands are a refuge for many species of commercial interest such as Sparidae, Serranidae and Sciaenidae. In the past, the Habibas were home to the monk seal Monachus monachus, which once again reflects the ecological interest of the particular habitats of these islands.

Threats and Pressures :

Tourism and fishing are the only economic activities present on the islands, with all the pressures they implies on the marine environment, starting with pollution, anchorage, destruction of vulnerable species (such as the Mediterranean Pen shell Pinna nobilis and the giant limpet Patella ferruginea), the overexploitation of fish species, the introduction of domestic species (such as cats). Other pressures of natural origin also occur, such as the erosion of several cliffs, the proliferation of rats, and the increase of yellow legged gulls’ populations.

Ecological characteristics :

The Habibas Islands have terrestrial and marine biodiversity of the Mediterranean region. There are 97 terrestrial plant species, 9 of which are endemic to North Africa. The richness of the Habibas Islands is reflected in a great diversity of areas of vegetation with perennial species (Frankenia Corymbosa, Ephedra altissima) representing as many fundamental ecological niches for the ornithological fauna, among which four species of birds are rare and endemic (Larus audouinii, Phalacrocorax aristoletis, Falco eleonorae and Calonectris diomedea). The presence of an endemic lizard Lacerta perspicillata was also reported. Marine biodiversity is characterized by the presence of various Mediterranean protected species, including Lithophyllum lichenoides, the giant limpet Patella Ferruginea, the sea urchin Centrostephanus longispinus, the grouper Epinephelus marginatus, the Mediterranean Pen shell Pinna nobilis and the white and blue dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba. The islands are also known by the presence of marine mammals, especially the Delphinidae. The seabed is characterized by the abundance of hard substrates which represent more than 900 ha including 100 ha of coralligenous substratum and more than 300 ha of maërl, with the presence of underwater caves, dark or semi-obscure. The fine and/or coarse sand grounds cover about 800 ha.

Management :

Ministère de l'Environnement et de l'Aménagement du Territoire MATE and more specifically the Commissariat National du Littoral (CNL), who will be responsible for monitoring and executing the management plan by setting up a team of managers and rangers who take turns on site to ensure a permanent presence, since 2008.

The management plan for the Habibas Islands was developed and finalized and adopted by the Steering Committee in 2013. It has been being implemented by the CNL since then.

The management plan, at this stage, concerns information and awareness among visitors, the cleaning of the harbour’s surroundings, the reduction of fishing pressure on fish fauna. The monitoring programme concerns the monitoring of the terrestrial environment (avifauna and herpetofauna), the monitoring of the marine environment, the monitoring of attendance and the monitoring of the cleanliness of the site.

Geographical position :

The Habibas Islands are about 26 miles west of Oran, off Figalo Cap, about 10 miles to the right of the port of Bou Zedjar, and 5.8 miles to the nearest continental point at Madagh II, west of Cape Sigale, known as Cap Blanc.