Tag Archives: Marine life

Mar de las Calmas: Spain’s First Marine National Park

  • Region: Islas Canarias
  • Island: El Hierro (La Restinga)
  • Declared a marine reserve: 1996
  • Marine reserve surface area: 750 hectares
  • Declared a Marine national park: Yet to be declared
  • Park surface area: To be confirmed but it is estimated to be a massive 24,000 hectares

The Mar de las Calmas, located off the coast of La Restinga in Spain’s Canary Islands, is set to become Spain’s first fully marine national park. This historic move will protect an underwater ecosystem rich in biodiversity, centered around the famous underwater mountain El Bajón. The proposed designation, approved by the Spanish Cabinet, will now undergo a parliamentary process to finalize its status.

El Bajón: A Legendary Dive Site

El Bajón, a sharp underwater mountain just off La Restinga, rises nearly to the surface, missing the open air by mere feet. This area is famous among underwater photographers for its dramatic landscape and rich marine life, including large groupers and manta rays. Since 1996, El Bajón has been part of the Mar de las Calmas marine reserve, which has helped preserve the diverse species found in these waters. The new national park status aims to extend this protection across a larger area.

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The Colomera sea turtle is on her way home?

Colomera, the female loggerhead sea turtle that spent some time recuperating in the ARCA del Mar aquarium after being rescued by Stranding Network (the University of Valencia and the Oceanogràfic Foundation seems to be on his way home again.

Colomera sea turtle with satelite tracker
Loggerhead sea turtle with satelite tracker

The turtle was released at the beach of Bellver de Oropesa (Valencia) on June 25 2020 with a satellite tracking emitter attached and after passing the Columbretes Islands she continued her journey to the Balearic Islands. After spending a few weeks exploring the coasts of Palma de Mallorca in mid-July she was in already the Sicilian Channel between the coasts of Tunisia and Sicily. Her route then continued towards Greece, specifically towards the Gulf of Ciparisia, on the western coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, near the Ionian Sea, where she remained for six months.

Colomera now seems to be heading back towards the Sicilian Channel and the last location is in the area of the island of Malta.

Is she on her way home to Spain? Time will tell.

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), is a species of oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around 90 cm (35 in) in carapace length when fully grown. The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kg (298 lb), with the largest specimens weighing in at more than 450 kg (1,000 lb). The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish brown. No external differences in sex are seen until the turtle becomes an adult, the most obvious difference being the adult males have thicker tails and shorter plastrons (lower shells) than the females. More on wikipedia

The Oceanogràfic Foundation in Valencia is the largest aquarium in Europe and are involved in many marine conservation activities. If you are in the area its well worth a visit.

Satellite follow-up of marine turtles

Thanks to the latest technology in following up wild fauna via satellite, we are able to know the survival rates. adaptation, use of habitat and the dynamics of marine turtles’ movements at the end of their recovery process at the Oceanogràfic or of those from other conservation projects, such as “head-starting” or breeding in captivity. All this information allows us to assess their recovery success and the feasibility of the specimens bred in the Sea Ark, and also generates very important information about the marine environment to manage and protect these species.

The Oceanogràfic Foundation website: https://www.oceanografic.org/en/

An animated video of Colomeras travels can be seen on twitter here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1369589095861809152

Colomera sea turtle release
Colomera sea turtle release

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.