Peace Parks were proposed for the Mediterranean Sea, the Near Atlantic Marine
Peace Park (Ibero-Moroccan Gulf, Straits of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea) being
the first one of them (Aguilar et al. 2010). An integrated governance framework as
set out in process may offer appropriate horizontal tools to help policymakers and
economic and environmental actors to join up their policies, interlink their activities
and optimize the use of marine and coastal space in an environmentally sustainable
manner.
Another international tool for preservation of marine life has been through the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES). Its aim is to ensure that international trade of specimens of wild animals
and plants does not threat their survival. Roughly 5800 species of animals and
30,000 species of plants are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through
international trade, and some of them are present in the Alboran Sea (e.g. black
corals). These species are listed in the three CITES Appendices according to how
threatened they are regarding international trade.
25.1.2 Marine and Coastal Conservation in the Spanish
Sector of the Alboran Sea
The Spanish legislative framework regulating the figure of MPA, focused on
maintaining the sustainability of the marine environment and biological diversity,
is referred to the Law on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (Law 42/2007 of
December 13) that identifies the MPA concept for the first time and contemplates
the creation of a network of MPAs. This law thus incorporated into the Spanish legal
system the possibility of creating MPAs and also established different protection
figures: Natural and National Parks (Parques Naturales, Parques Nacionales), Natural Reserves (Reservas Naturales), MPAs, Natural Monuments (Monumentos
Naturales) and Protected Landscapes (Paisajes Protegidos) (Fig. 25.1) (MateoRamírez et al. 2020a), depending on the assets and values to be protected as well
as the management objectives to be met. Later on, the Marine Environment Protection Act (March 12, 2010; BOCG 121/000059) addressed new aspects of marine
environment protection and management, with three key elements: (1) marine strategies as a planning instrument, (2) the creation of a network of MPAs and (3) the
incorporation of environmental criteria in the uses of the marine environment.
Previously, the Law 1/2002, of April 4, regulated the management, promotion and
control of marine fishing, shell fishing and marine aquaculture (BOE 106/2002 of
May 3, 2002, p. 16189; BOJA 45/2002 of April 4, 2002). Legislation at the
autonomous level of Andalusia has also created different regulations for the protection of marine natural areas and their resources. In 1989 (Law 2/1989 of July
18, BOJA 60 of July 27), the inventory of the Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia
was approved. Currently, more than 30 years later, the Network of Protected Natural
Areas of Andalusia (Red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Andalucía, RENPA)
25 Marine Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas of the Alboran Sea and. . .
823
Peace Park (Ibero-Moroccan Gulf, Straits of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea) being
the first one of them (Aguilar et al. 2010). An integrated governance framework as
set out in process may offer appropriate horizontal tools to help policymakers and
economic and environmental actors to join up their policies, interlink their activities
and optimize the use of marine and coastal space in an environmentally sustainable
manner.
Another international tool for preservation of marine life has been through the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES). Its aim is to ensure that international trade of specimens of wild animals
and plants does not threat their survival. Roughly 5800 species of animals and
30,000 species of plants are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through
international trade, and some of them are present in the Alboran Sea (e.g. black
corals). These species are listed in the three CITES Appendices according to how
threatened they are regarding international trade.
25.1.2 Marine and Coastal Conservation in the Spanish
Sector of the Alboran Sea
The Spanish legislative framework regulating the figure of MPA, focused on
maintaining the sustainability of the marine environment and biological diversity,
is referred to the Law on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (Law 42/2007 of
December 13) that identifies the MPA concept for the first time and contemplates
the creation of a network of MPAs. This law thus incorporated into the Spanish legal
system the possibility of creating MPAs and also established different protection
figures: Natural and National Parks (Parques Naturales, Parques Nacionales), Natural Reserves (Reservas Naturales), MPAs, Natural Monuments (Monumentos
Naturales) and Protected Landscapes (Paisajes Protegidos) (Fig. 25.1) (MateoRamírez et al. 2020a), depending on the assets and values to be protected as well
as the management objectives to be met. Later on, the Marine Environment Protection Act (March 12, 2010; BOCG 121/000059) addressed new aspects of marine
environment protection and management, with three key elements: (1) marine strategies as a planning instrument, (2) the creation of a network of MPAs and (3) the
incorporation of environmental criteria in the uses of the marine environment.
Previously, the Law 1/2002, of April 4, regulated the management, promotion and
control of marine fishing, shell fishing and marine aquaculture (BOE 106/2002 of
May 3, 2002, p. 16189; BOJA 45/2002 of April 4, 2002). Legislation at the
autonomous level of Andalusia has also created different regulations for the protection of marine natural areas and their resources. In 1989 (Law 2/1989 of July
18, BOJA 60 of July 27), the inventory of the Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia
was approved. Currently, more than 30 years later, the Network of Protected Natural
Areas of Andalusia (Red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Andalucía, RENPA)
25 Marine Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas of the Alboran Sea and. . .
823