Mar Menor and Oriental Mediterranean zone of the Region of Murcia coast

Territory :

The area is limited toward the East and the South embraces a portion of the submerged coastal fringe of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Hormigas, Grosa and Farallón Islands. The western limit follows the shore line of the Mar Menor interior lagoon, incorporating three wetlands areas: El Carmolí, Lo Poyo and La Hita. The Southern limit include the submerged coast fringe between Palos Cape and Negrete Cape.

Physical characteristic :

The zone is part of the great domain of the Betic Mountains, occupying principaly a wide quaternary plain. The geomorphology of the area has been due fundamentally to the volcanic and sedimentary processes that gave origin to the sandy bar of La Manga, and the biggest interior lagoon in Spain: the Mar Menor, communicated with the Mediterranean sea through a system of natural channels called “golas”. Associated to the lagoon there are coastal salt marshes, salt flats (salt steppes) and some volcanic mountains. In this area the morphology of the coast is shallow; 6.5 m. The Mediterranean south coast is characterized by an alternation between rocky (sea) cliffs - overcoming the 20 m height and small creeks and beaches. The submarine coast registers the same heterogeneity, with areas formed by soft substratum characteristic of beaches and rocky cliffs -10 m. depth-. Next to the islands there are the biggest depths, until 50 m. depth.

Specificity and importance :

The area hides the unique “sabinar of dunes” (Juniperus turbinata), which is not very abundant in the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. The area presents also 7 birds, 4 marine plants, 5 marine invertebrates, 2 fish, 2 reptils and 2 mammals included in Annex II of the Protocol. It is an important area for aquatic birds, mainly Himantopus himantopus, Egretta garzetta, Calandrella rufescens, Recurvirostra avosetta, Sterna albifrons and Gelochelidon nilotica. The Isla de las Hormigas have an important colony of Hidrobates pelagicus melitensis. The populations of Calonectris diomedea and Larus audouinii. Isla Grosa is a very important colony in the world of Larus audouinii.

Threats and Pressures :

There are serious threats to habitats and species deriving from intensification of tourist-recreational pressure in the area (habitats alteration of the lagoon’s hydric régime, alteration of salinity and temperature, water pollution from urban areas and from irrigated lands have caused the substitution and disappearance of habitats and its associate species, sport and leisure structures, nautical sports). These touristic activities are very important in summer.

Ecological characteristics :

There are quite important marine and terrestrial habitats in the SPAMI, noticeably Posidonia oceanica meadows (approximate coverage: 8,400 ha). Using the classification of habitats of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, there are also: sandy bottoms with Cymodocea nodosa (approximate coverage: 140 ha), coastal lagoons (approximate coverage: 13,519 ha). The zone presents a high number of terrestrial habitats as well, 21 terrestrial habitats.

Management :

Comunidad Autónoma Región de Murcia, Maria Monteagudo (maria.monteagudo2@carm.es)

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, General Subdirectorate for the Protection of the Fisheries Resources - General Directorate for Fisheries Resources, (drpesmar@mapama.es) and Silvia Revenga Martínez de Pazos (srevenga@mapa.es)

At the moment, a common Management Plan for the whole area does not exist, but a draft is available. Protection, planning and/or ordering measures at the present time, come from Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park and Espacios Abiertos e Islas del Mar Menor Natural Site. The basic financing comes from resources of the Regional Government of the Murcia Region, and the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs of the external waters of the Marine reserve. The surveillance of the area is carried out for the Regional Government in the land area and the Government of Spain in the marine area. In the area, academic and investigators activities are developed (mainly of the University of Murcia).

Geographical position :

Region of Murcia. The area is located in the Southeast of the Region of Murcia, limiting in its Northern end with the province of Alicante.