background

The Alborán Sea is unique biogeographic domain on the westernmost portion of the Mediterranean Sea, lying between Spain on the north and Morocco on the south. This region is a dynamic transition zone between the warmer and saltier Mediterranean Sea and the cooler and fresher Atlantic Ocean (Rodríguez 1982, Abelló et al. 2003, Spalding et al. 2007). Water, migratory marine organisms and vessels travel from one basin to the other through the Strait of Gibraltar (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. The Strait of Gibraltar from space. Surface water currents moving eastwards and deep water currents moving westwards come together in this narrow passage between the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alborán Sea. Localized mixing and upwelling fertilize surface waters.

(white: clouds, brown: coastal run-off, green: phytoplankton blooms)

The research area, in the North coast of the Alborán Sea and Vera Gulf, has a narrow continental shelf and a complicated bathymetry (Fig. 2 modified from Cañadas 2006). The input of Atlantic surface water into the Mediterranean gives raise to strong currents and persistent meso-scale eddies (Testor et al. 2005, Pujol & Larnicol 2005). The local bathymetry steers these currents and enhances mixing, making this area one of the most productive regions of the Mediterranean (Rodríguez 1982, Parrilla & Kinder 1987). An impressive assemblage and density of oceanic species reproduce and forage in the Alboran Sea, and migrate through the area seasonally (Carboneras 2004, Cañadas 2006) including: (i) a highly-diverse cetacean community, notably deep-diving whales and epi-pelagic dolphins (Cañadas 2006), (ii) areas of greatest long-finned pilot whale encounter rates, (iii) the most important remaining common dolphin habitat in the Mediterranean (Cañadas & Sagarminaga 2000, Bearzi et al. 2003), and (iv) a corridor for migrating loggerhead turtles, fin whales, and shearwaters (Ristow et al. 2000, Guinet et al. in press, Cañadas et al. in prep.).

Fig. 2. Map of the study area, showing the main features of the bathymetry and ocean circulation.

The European Union (EU 1995) recognizes two main MPA designations for protecting threatened species and habitats: SACs and SPAMIs. World Wildlife Fund, Birdlife International and Alnitak are already working to identify potential MPA sites in the Alborán Sea (Cañadas et al. 2005, Carboneras 2005, WWF 2006). Additionally, several conservation steps have been taken under the auspices of the EU Habitat Directives. A dolphin SAC already exists in Murcia, and three additional sites have been proposed in Andalucia, within a larger regional SPAMI (Fig. 3 modified from Cañadas 2006). In addition, a proposed "oceanic area"(a hot-spot for cetaceans) would protect several cetaceans and safe-guard dolphin movements between disjunct SACs. This project will assess the effectiveness of these existing MPA proposals for multiple species simultaneously.

Fig. 3. Proposals for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and SPAMI (Special Area Mediterranean Importance) designations, showing a proposed “oceanic corridor” linking disjunct SACs.


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The Alborán Sea is unique biogeographic domain on the westernmost portion of the Mediterranean Sea, lying between Spain on the north and Morocco on the south. This region is a dynamic transition zone between the warmer and saltier Mediterranean Sea and the cooler and fresher Atlantic Ocean (Rodríguez 1982, Abelló et al. 2003, Spalding et al. 2007). Water, migratory marine organisms and vessels travel from one basin to the other through the Strait of Gibraltar (Fig. 1). Fig. 1. The Strait of Gibraltar from space. Surface water currents moving eastwards and deep water currents moving westwards come together in this narrow passage between the Gulf of Cadiz and the *Alborán Sea. Localized mixing and upwelling fertilize surface waters.* (white: clouds, brown: coastal run-off, green: phytoplankton blooms) The research area, in the North coast of the Alborán Sea and Vera Gulf, has a narrow continental shelf and a complicated bathymetry (Fig. 2 modified from Cañadas 2006). The input of Atlantic surface water into the Mediterranean gives raise to strong currents and persistent meso-scale eddies (Testor et al. 2005, Pujol & Larnicol 2005). The local bathymetry steers these currents and enhances mixing, making this area one of the most productive regions of the Mediterranean (Rodríguez 1982, Parrilla & Kinder 1987). An impressive assemblage and density of oceanic species reproduce and forage in the Alboran Sea, and migrate through the area seasonally (Carboneras 2004, Cañadas 2006) including: (i) a highly-diverse cetacean community, notably deep-diving whales and epi-pelagic dolphins (Cañadas 2006), (ii) areas of greatest long-finned pilot whale encounter rates, (iii) the most important remaining common dolphin habitat in the Mediterranean (Cañadas & Sagarminaga 2000, Bearzi et al. 2003), and (iv) a corridor for migrating loggerhead turtles, fin whales, and shearwaters (Ristow et al. 2000, Guinet et al. in press, Cañadas et al. in prep.). Fig. 2. Map of the study area, showing the main features of the bathymetry and ocean circulation. The European Union (EU 1995) recognizes two main MPA designations for protecting threatened species and habitats: SACs and SPAMIs. World Wildlife Fund, Birdlife International and Alnitak are already working to identify potential MPA sites in the Alborán Sea (Cañadas et al. 2005, Carboneras 2005, WWF 2006). Additionally, several conservation steps have been taken under the auspices of the EU Habitat Directives. A dolphin SAC already exists in Murcia, and three additional sites have been proposed in Andalucia, within a larger regional SPAMI (Fig. 3** modified from Cañadas 2006). In addition, a proposed "oceanic area"(a hot-spot for cetaceans) would protect several cetaceans and safe-guard dolphin movements between disjunct SACs. This project will assess the effectiveness of these existing MPA proposals for multiple species simultaneously. Fig. 3. Proposals for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and SPAMI (Special Area Mediterranean Importance) designations, showing a proposed “oceanic corridor” linking disjunct SACs.
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