In a landmark decision, Spain has taken a significant step towards preserving its rich marine biodiversity by declaring seven new marine protected areas (MPAs) under the Natura 2000 network.
The Natura 2000 Network is a network of natural areas in Europe that promotes the protection of wild and semi-natural species and habitats while allowing for human activity. It aims to maintain a good conservation status for habitats and species of Community interest. This network is also the world’s most extensive network of protected areas.
The newly declared areas together account for a surface of more than 9.3 million hectares and would represent an increase of 8.7% of the Spanish marine protected area. These areas will contribute to the European Union’s goal of protecting at least 30% of its waters by 2030, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy. This move reflects a growing global recognition of the importance of safeguarding the seas and ocean while preserving the invaluable benefits they provide.
The importance of Marine Protected Areas
A marine protected area of the Natura 2000 Network space of La Albera, where SUBMON has a marine stewardship agreement with the Generalitat de Catalunya and Llançà Town Council. / SUBMON.
First of all, they serve as safe havens for a wide range of marine species, providing them with a protected space for feeding, migration and reproduction.
On the other hand, from an environmental point of view, MPAs play a crucial role in climate change mitigation. Healthy marine ecosystems, such as reefs and seagrass meadows, preserved in MPAs, contribute crucially to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.
In terms of sustainable fisheries management, MPAs regulate fishing activities within their boundaries, thus ensuring fish stocks’ long-term viability. This approach not only benefits marine populations, but also has a positive impact on local economies by preserving fisheries as a sustainable resource and ensuring food security globally.
In addition, marine protected areas also bring benefits to local economies, as well-managed marine protected areas can attract ecotourism, providing economic opportunities for local communities. Snorkeling, scuba diving and wildlife watching are popular activities that generate revenue while raising awareness of marine conservation.
The newly established protected areas in Spain
Tursiops truncatus. / SUBMON.
Such areas present vulnerable habitats and species which are included in the Habitat Directive, such as reefs, submarine structures made by leaking gases, sandbanks and submerged or partially submerged sea caves, as well as the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). In terms of birds, the newly declared SACs will protect more than 30 species, which include also the following marine species: razorbill (Alca torda), Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis), Mediterranean gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus), common tern (Sterna hirundo), little tern (Sternula albifrons), sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), Scopoli’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), Aoduiin gull (Larus audouiini) and the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus).
A beacon of hope
Spain’s establishment of new marine protected areas underscores the global imperative to prioritise marine conservation. As we celebrate this positive step, other nations need to follow suit and collectively work towards safeguarding the ocean. By recognising the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems and the well-being of human societies, we can ensure a sustainable future for our blue planet.
However, it is crucial to remain vigilant and address the potential pitfall of newly designed marine protected areas becoming mere “paper parks.” This term refers to areas that, despite being designated as protected on paper, lack effective enforcement and management to ensure genuine conservation efforts.
To truly safeguard our ocean, it is imperative that these areas are not only established but also actively managed and enforced, implementing comprehensive conservation strategies to safeguard biodiversity, ecosystems, and the valuable resources they harbour.
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Please help us to complete shut down all the horrible future plans for the cruelty businesses of octopus farming it is not ecosystem right it going to cause the impact on the environment health balance of the ecosystem of nature in the ocean sea of Spain.
Octopus are intelligent and finally and they create playful creatures of the sea putting them in captivity will cause the following issues
In which is bot funny anymore.
It will cause the insulted to an life in captivity of the mass production.
The octopus farming is bad for the environment.
As the octopus farming pollutes the surrounding area of the environment with bad nitrogen and phosphorus waste .
This can lead to an algae blooms that creates low -oxygen an dead zones devoid of life disturbing the local marine ecosystem I beg you to cancel the Spanish government plans to save and protect the octopus marine creatures of the sea please stop all their plans and work with the EU people the same together we can protect our marine creatures of the sea please I ask for your help as I have signed petitions and I have worked with Petra who want this to come to an end so does many other wildlife charities are totally unhappy please help take action against the Spanish government against its crazy plan it is going to damage our marine ecosystem of the sea The octopus is part of the Marine reaches of the sea it is our health balance at risk I leave this in your hands please contact the EU people and explain the importance of getting a ban and telling the Spanish government off
This cannot go ahead.