these areas also can be obtained on the web site of the relevant environmental
administration.
1. Cabo de Gata. Located at the eastern limit of the north shore of the Alboran Sea,
in the Natural Park Cabo de Gata-Níjar (province of Almería). It features
extensive meadows of P. oceanica (Fig. 8.10a) and C. nodosa (García Raso
et al. 1992), and for this reason, this site was selected for the installation of an
artificial reef in order to preserve the meadows (Moreno et al. 2005, 2006). The
important natural values of the area allow it to be declared, as well as marineterrestrial Natural Park, Marine Reserve, Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) area, Geopark, and Biosphere Reserve.
2. Roquetas de Mar. Located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula (province of
Almería). The importance of this marine area lies in the presence of Posidonia
oceanica seagrass meadows that form a unique barrier reef of great interest. It is
one of the few P. oceanica reefs that survive on the Mediterranean coast and is
unique on the coast of the Alboran Sea. In 2001 it was designated as Posidonia
Barrier Reef Natural Monument (Fig. 8.10b, c) and in 2016 as a Special Area of
Conservation (SAC). Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera noltei occur in addition to
P. oceanica. Among the algae, the invasive species Asparagopsis taxiformis and
Caulerpa cylindracea, which have recently spread widely, are conspicuous.
3. Punta Entinas-Sabinar. Located in front of the localities of El Ejido and
Roquetas de Mar (province of Almería). The presence of various habitats of
community interest (Directive 92/43/EEC) led to its designation as SAC Fondos
Marinos de Punta Entinas-Sabinar. It is heterogeneous, with alternating sandy
areas and rocky outcrops, ranging 5–30 m in depth. On the deepest bottoms,
there are detrital sediments with maerl. The main attraction is the extensive
P. oceanica meadow, which constitutes a habitat of community interest as the
largest known western meadow of the Mediterranean coast, reaching 25 m deep.
There are also Cymodocea nodosa meadows, but these are of smaller extent.
Within these meadows, stands of Zostera noltei appear on muddy sand bottoms.
Outside the meadows of P. oceanica, there are detritic bottoms with areas of
maerl, with corallinaceans and a rich associated flora. On the rocky substrates, a
very diverse community of algae proliferates.
4. Alboran Island. Located in the center of the Alboran Sea, the entire perimeter of
the island consists of cliffs with heights around 10 m, with small caves and an
extensive rocky platform. Next the island, to the NE, is the islet of Nubes. The
bottoms around the island host a large number of marine species in a magnificent
state of conservation; however, seagrasses are not present (Templado et al.
2006) as the bottoms are mainly rocky and with high hydrodynamism. The
high biodiversity on the island is also proof of its good conservation, which has
contributed to its designation as both a Marine and Fishing Reserve and as a
Natural Place. It is also a site included in the list of SPAMI. In the Alboran Sea,
large kelps such as Laminaria ochroleuca and Saccorhiza polyschides and the
small kelps Phyllariopsis brevipes and P. purpurascens are scarce, but here their
presence between 40 and 60 m depth is noteworthy, although they can also be
8 Seaweeds and Seagrasses: The Marine Forests from the Alboran Sea
267
administration.
1. Cabo de Gata. Located at the eastern limit of the north shore of the Alboran Sea,
in the Natural Park Cabo de Gata-Níjar (province of Almería). It features
extensive meadows of P. oceanica (Fig. 8.10a) and C. nodosa (García Raso
et al. 1992), and for this reason, this site was selected for the installation of an
artificial reef in order to preserve the meadows (Moreno et al. 2005, 2006). The
important natural values of the area allow it to be declared, as well as marineterrestrial Natural Park, Marine Reserve, Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) area, Geopark, and Biosphere Reserve.
2. Roquetas de Mar. Located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula (province of
Almería). The importance of this marine area lies in the presence of Posidonia
oceanica seagrass meadows that form a unique barrier reef of great interest. It is
one of the few P. oceanica reefs that survive on the Mediterranean coast and is
unique on the coast of the Alboran Sea. In 2001 it was designated as Posidonia
Barrier Reef Natural Monument (Fig. 8.10b, c) and in 2016 as a Special Area of
Conservation (SAC). Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera noltei occur in addition to
P. oceanica. Among the algae, the invasive species Asparagopsis taxiformis and
Caulerpa cylindracea, which have recently spread widely, are conspicuous.
3. Punta Entinas-Sabinar. Located in front of the localities of El Ejido and
Roquetas de Mar (province of Almería). The presence of various habitats of
community interest (Directive 92/43/EEC) led to its designation as SAC Fondos
Marinos de Punta Entinas-Sabinar. It is heterogeneous, with alternating sandy
areas and rocky outcrops, ranging 5–30 m in depth. On the deepest bottoms,
there are detrital sediments with maerl. The main attraction is the extensive
P. oceanica meadow, which constitutes a habitat of community interest as the
largest known western meadow of the Mediterranean coast, reaching 25 m deep.
There are also Cymodocea nodosa meadows, but these are of smaller extent.
Within these meadows, stands of Zostera noltei appear on muddy sand bottoms.
Outside the meadows of P. oceanica, there are detritic bottoms with areas of
maerl, with corallinaceans and a rich associated flora. On the rocky substrates, a
very diverse community of algae proliferates.
4. Alboran Island. Located in the center of the Alboran Sea, the entire perimeter of
the island consists of cliffs with heights around 10 m, with small caves and an
extensive rocky platform. Next the island, to the NE, is the islet of Nubes. The
bottoms around the island host a large number of marine species in a magnificent
state of conservation; however, seagrasses are not present (Templado et al.
2006) as the bottoms are mainly rocky and with high hydrodynamism. The
high biodiversity on the island is also proof of its good conservation, which has
contributed to its designation as both a Marine and Fishing Reserve and as a
Natural Place. It is also a site included in the list of SPAMI. In the Alboran Sea,
large kelps such as Laminaria ochroleuca and Saccorhiza polyschides and the
small kelps Phyllariopsis brevipes and P. purpurascens are scarce, but here their
presence between 40 and 60 m depth is noteworthy, although they can also be
8 Seaweeds and Seagrasses: The Marine Forests from the Alboran Sea
267