New Marine Protected Areas for the benthic biodiversity conservation in the Alboran Sea

The Alboran Sea displays oceanographic and biogeographical highlighting characteristics that promote one of the most important areas for marine biodiversity of the Mediterranean and European waters. Nevertheless, anthropogenic activities are threatening some coastal habitats that are highly important for species currently threatened or in danger of extinction (e.g. Patella ferruginea, Pinna nobilis). Consequently, new marine protected areas have been recently declared in the northern Alboran Sea in order to preserve species, habitats and ecosystems. The Sites of Community Importance “Calahonda” (Málaga) and “Acantilados y Fondos Marinos de Calahonda-Castell de Ferro” (Granada) contain Mediterranean characteristic habitats (e.g. Posidonia oceanica beds, coralligenous communities) with an important Atlantic faunistic component, as well as with protected species and others that are extremely rare or absent in other European locations. In addition, ecological processes that are representative of the Alboran Sea (e.g. upwellings, high productivity) take place in these areas, supporting the development of local artisanal fisheries.