224
R. De la Cruz Modino and J.J. Pascual-Fernández
Spanish Marine Protected Areas
Biogeographically speaking, Spain is an extremely diverse coastal country. It is
comprised of most of the Iberian Peninsula , some archipelagos and other islands
and islets. Here, MPAs have taken on many different forms, including No-take
zones, Maritime & Terrestrial National Parks, Marine Reserves, and Fishing
Reserves. One of the fi rst Spanish protected areas was created around the archipelago of the Chafarinas Islands, off the Mediterranean coast of Africa. The archipelago was declared an “Area for National Defence” in 1920, and then converted
into a “National hunting refuge” from 1979 to 1982. In 1982, the area was declared
a “No-take zone”. In Spain, MPAs can be regarded as multiple-use areas for purposes other than ecological conservation. Spanish MPAs have already been analyzed in the literature, and their goals and images are as diverse and dynamic as the
socio-ecological context in which they are implemented (Jentoft et al. 2011 ) .
Consequently, denominations or forms may change or overlap within the same
area. The Medes Islands (Catalonia, Spain) are an interesting example, because the
MPA has undergone several transformations. It originated as a “No-take zone” in
1983, was made a “Protected Area” in the 1990s, after which the protected area
was extended and declared a marine and terrestrial “Natural Park” in 2010. Another
emblematic and early Spanish MPA is Doñana (Andalusia), which encompasses
various terrestrial and aquatic habitats and ecosystems. The area has been declared
a Natural Park, National park, Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site and Special
Area for the Protection of Wild Birds ( Pain et al. 1998 , 46). It is also reserved for
several human, recreational and non-recreational (including apiculture, shellfi shing, pilgrimage route, raising livestock, etc.) uses and receives thousands of
visitors per year.
3
Article 148 of the 1978 Spanish Constitution speci fi es that regional governments
have the capacity to legislate and manage maritime areas (Suárez de Vivero and
Frieyro de Lara 1994 ) ; hence, fi sheries responsibilities are shared in Spain. Both
national and regional governments legislate on the protection of the marine environment under their jurisdiction, creating a need for coordination that has not always
been successful. In addition, after Spain’s inclusion in the European Union (EU) in
1986, several protectionist policies were implemented as a result of the European
environmental agenda and the maritime and coastal directories. Several aspects
affect the implementation and rising numbers of Spanish MPAs: different designations, diverse goals, and legal frameworks not always connected with any fi shing
interest or issues. MPA responsibilities can also be shared by the different administrations (national or regional). This may be a result of location, for example, within or
3 In 1987 J.M. Granados Corona presented an extensive study in his doctoral thesis about the
digitales.us.es/tesis/tesis/1555/transformaciones-historicas-de-los-ecosistemas-del-parque-nacionalde-donana/#description
R. De la Cruz Modino and J.J. Pascual-Fernández
Spanish Marine Protected Areas
Biogeographically speaking, Spain is an extremely diverse coastal country. It is
comprised of most of the Iberian Peninsula , some archipelagos and other islands
and islets. Here, MPAs have taken on many different forms, including No-take
zones, Maritime & Terrestrial National Parks, Marine Reserves, and Fishing
Reserves. One of the fi rst Spanish protected areas was created around the archipelago of the Chafarinas Islands, off the Mediterranean coast of Africa. The archipelago was declared an “Area for National Defence” in 1920, and then converted
into a “National hunting refuge” from 1979 to 1982. In 1982, the area was declared
a “No-take zone”. In Spain, MPAs can be regarded as multiple-use areas for purposes other than ecological conservation. Spanish MPAs have already been analyzed in the literature, and their goals and images are as diverse and dynamic as the
socio-ecological context in which they are implemented (Jentoft et al. 2011 ) .
Consequently, denominations or forms may change or overlap within the same
area. The Medes Islands (Catalonia, Spain) are an interesting example, because the
MPA has undergone several transformations. It originated as a “No-take zone” in
1983, was made a “Protected Area” in the 1990s, after which the protected area
was extended and declared a marine and terrestrial “Natural Park” in 2010. Another
emblematic and early Spanish MPA is Doñana (Andalusia), which encompasses
various terrestrial and aquatic habitats and ecosystems. The area has been declared
a Natural Park, National park, Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site and Special
Area for the Protection of Wild Birds ( Pain et al. 1998 , 46). It is also reserved for
several human, recreational and non-recreational (including apiculture, shellfi shing, pilgrimage route, raising livestock, etc.) uses and receives thousands of
visitors per year.
3
Article 148 of the 1978 Spanish Constitution speci fi es that regional governments
have the capacity to legislate and manage maritime areas (Suárez de Vivero and
Frieyro de Lara 1994 ) ; hence, fi sheries responsibilities are shared in Spain. Both
national and regional governments legislate on the protection of the marine environment under their jurisdiction, creating a need for coordination that has not always
been successful. In addition, after Spain’s inclusion in the European Union (EU) in
1986, several protectionist policies were implemented as a result of the European
environmental agenda and the maritime and coastal directories. Several aspects
affect the implementation and rising numbers of Spanish MPAs: different designations, diverse goals, and legal frameworks not always connected with any fi shing
interest or issues. MPA responsibilities can also be shared by the different administrations (national or regional). This may be a result of location, for example, within or
3 In 1987 J.M. Granados Corona presented an extensive study in his doctoral thesis about the
digitales.us.es/tesis/tesis/1555/transformaciones-historicas-de-los-ecosistemas-del-parque-nacionalde-donana/#description