Return to Egad Islands

The Marine Reserve and terrestrial

Earth reserves

The three natural reserves of the Egadi: Favignana, Marettimo e Levanzo, in addition to the Stack islands, Ant and Maraone, established by decree assessoriale, affecting a large part of the territory still intact and rich in numerous endemic species.

An area of ​​more than 500 ha, between reserve and preriserva, located on the Santa Caterina mountain in Favignana is protected following interesting findings, the rocky vegetation that presents exclusive endemic species of the Egadi islands such as Brassica Crucifera Macrocarpa and others with areal broader such as maritime Calendula, Anthemis sicula, l’Anthemis secundiramea. Sesili socconei etc.. While among the fauna assumes particular importance the Mollusk lungfish Oxychilus egataensis and Beetle Geotrupes duei expression of local endemic species.

Over three hundred hectares of reserves of Levanzo, Faraglione, Ant and Maraone who sees a rich flora of about 400 species comprising several endemic entities including the already mentioned Brassica Macrocarpa, expression of high and low scrub vegetation, become the builder Euphorbia dendroides (Pizzo Monaco) and Rosmarinus officinalis of the district Launched stones and one with Senecio cineraria flagship San Leonardo, as well as interesting cave populations of the walls that fall to the sea. For the invertebrate fauna should be mentioned the Chilopode Lithobius riggioi and Orthoptera Hesferica galvagni; for ornithofauna the presence of a substantial colony of Shearwater ( Puffinus puffinus).

Marettimo, even more than the other islands, It has allowed greater genetic isolation to numerous endemic species, which constitute a natural heritage of an extreme rarity. Cited in the decree of establishment of reserves numerous plants of great interest such as: Buplerum dianthifolium, Brassica Macrocarpa, Sciìlla rughii, Daphne oleifeeia, Periploca angustifolia, Lagurus wearing ed daisy marittmum. In its vegetation complex it is represented by characteristic aspects of scrub and garrigue scrubland with different facies.

The island offers a broadly diversified faunal communities, in particular citing the ornithofauna: the Berta maggiore (Calonectris diomedea), the Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus), the storm Bird (Hydrobates pelagicus), Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), the Magnanina (Sylvia undata), Black Wheatear (Oenanthe cures). The herpetofauna is represented by the endemic lizard Podarcis wagleriana marettimensis. Among invertebrates, the presence of confined Sicilian gastropods should be highlighted Oxichilus denatale and insects Cilindronotus ruffoi, Allophylax costatipennis.

Ben 1.132 are the hectares of the reserve, equivalent to approximately 60% marettimaro the territory.


The Marine Reserve (AMP Egadi)

Located on the waterfront that juts from Trapani to Marsala, the “Marine Nature Reserve” Egadi includes the islands of Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo and the islets of Formica and Maraone.

The Marine Protected Area Aegadian, It located in front of the north-western coast of Sicily, it was established by Ministerial Decree of 27 December 1991 and it was founded with the purpose of the protection of natural habitats, with particular reference to the conservation of marine resources and the fishing regulations and the need to conserve biodiversity, in a sustainable development perspective.

The reserve, with its 53.992 ha, besides being the largest in Europe, It presents the characteristic of being the first point of arrival for many marine organisms, whose movements are often linked with the trend of the Atlantic current. Such flow of ocean water reaches the surface in correspondence of the Egadi and assumes considerable importance, bringing a biological loading and modifying, little by little, its structure thermohaline, salinity, Plankton and ittiofauna.

The affected area is bounded by joining the following points of the compass:

  • A) years. 37″ 59′ 42″ North – long. 012°26’48’ E
  • B) years. 38° 01’30” North – long. 012° 20’18” E
  • C) years. 38° 02’12” North – long. 012°02’42’ E
  • D) years. 38° 01’30” North – long. 012° 00′ 36″ E
  • E) years. 38° 00’18” North – long. 012°00’00’ E
  • F) years. 38° 00′ 00″ North – long. 012° 00′ 24″ E
  • G) years. 37° 57′ 36″ North – long. 012°00’30’ E
  • H) years. 37° 53′ 00” North – long. 012° 02′ 54″ E
  • I) years. 37° 52’12” North – long. 012°05’30’E
  • L) years. 37° 53’18” North – long. 012° 07′ 12″ E
  • M) years. 37° 52′ 06″ North – long. 012°10’36″E
  • N) years. 37° 52’12” North – long. 012″ 18′ 18″ E
  • O) years. 37° 54′ 30″ North – long. 012°23’24″E

E’ divided into four zones (A – B – C – D).

Area “A”, or the integral reserve, the “B”, general reserves, the “C” the partial reserve and “D” the protective reserves.

Each of the areas has access possibilities and limitations in usability from both a standpoint of sport and amateur fishing even than the more properly tourist.

However the reserve is accessible if you observe certain rules and surely necessarily be improved in respect of a functional balance between the economic activities related to fishing, the tourist-use requirements, environmental protection of both marine and land territory, with the aim to affirm a real quality of life and full of that territory by users and primarily by the inhabitants of the islands.


AREA “A” – INTEGRAL RESERVE

– On the island of Marettimo the stretch of sea between Cala Bianca and the lighthouse south of Punta Libeccio, up to a distance of Km. 2 away from the coast. The island is also affected by the area “B” e “C”.

– In the islet of Maraone the area delimited by the coast line

IN THIS AREA IS ALLOWED

  • The navigation and parking of ships and boats of any type and gender, authorized by the Port of Trapani, for official purposes and study;
  • Navigation and parking without anchoring of boats belonging to residents of the City of Favignana for conducting guided tours of activity at the surface or underwater, in groups of up to thirty people, authorized by the City of Favignana. In the area “A” Marettimo permissions extend to homeowners located in’ isola.
  • Bathing.

 

E’ BANNED

  • Removal, even partial, and damage to the geological and mineral formations;
  • Fishing both professional sport by any means exercised;
  • Diving with breathing apparatus car, subject to the diving authorized by the Port of Trapani and the Ministry of Environment, for scientific research purposes or for cine-camera activities;
  • Hunting, catching, collection, damage to animal or vegetable species and generally any activity that may cause danger or disturbance of the same, including the introduction of alien species;
  • alteration, direct or indirect, benthic environment and chemical characteristics, physical, and biological water, as well as the placing of waste and solid substances which can modify, even transiently, the characteristics of’ marine environment;
  • The introduction of weapons, of explosives and any destructive means and trapping, as well as toxic or polluting substances;
  • Activities that can still cause damage, hindrance or disturbance to the creation of study and research programs to be implemented in;
  • The navigation, access or parking of ships and boats of any type and gender, except as permitted;
  • The detention of equipment for underwater fishing and surface.

 


AREA “B” – GENERAL RESERVE

– On the island of Marettimo the stretch of sea overlooking the coast between the Punta that delimits Cala Bianca and Punta Troia in the South-West, for a distance of Km 2 – 2.5 and around the stretch of sea facing the coast between Punta Bassana and south lighthouse at Punta Libeccio, for a distance of Km 2 and approximately a minimum 500 m. from the coast

– Nell’ Levanzo the stretch of sea fronting the coast between Cape Grosso and Stack Rock for a maximum of kilometers away. 2 and a minimum of approximately 500 m. away from the coast

– On the island of Favignana, the stretch of sea facing Punta Stack for a maximum distance of 2 Km and minimum 700 m. from the coast

– On the island of Formica, including the sea area are of broadly within a broken line located approximately 300 m. from the coast, closed in the west by a straight line placed at about 300 m. from the coast to delimit the area bordering II “A” integral reserve of Maraone.

IN THIS AREA AND’ PERMITTED

  • The navigation of ships and boats of any type and gender beyond 500 m. from the coast;
  • The navigation and parking of ships and boats within the 500 m. from the coast, authorized by the Port of Trapani and the Ministry of Environment, for official purposes and studies;
  • Navigation and parking within 500 m. from shore to ship belonging to residents or homeowners in the municipality of Favignana authorized by the City;
  • The navigation within and parking 500 m. from the coast of boats belonging to persons who are not staying less than seven days, if authorized;
  • The sport fishing and commercial fishing Surface, as provided by the regulations in the sea fisheries prior approval of the City of Favignana for sport fishing, and by the Port of Trapani for professional fishing;
  • The swimming and diving with breathing devices.

 

E’ BANNED:

  • The fishing at trawls; underwater fishing;
  • The navigation within and parking 500 m. from the coast of ships and boats of any kind and type, Except as allowable;
  • The detention of equipment for underwater fishing.

 


AREA “C” – RESERVE PARTIAL

The stretch of sea around the Favignana islands, Levanzo and Formica Maraone

IN THIS AREA IS ALLOWED:

  • The surface fishing, as well as commercial fishing except those exercised by trawl, prior approval of the City of Favignana for sport fishing, and by the Port of Trapani for professional fishing;
  • The swimming and diving with breathing devices.

 

AREA “D” – PROTECTION RESERVE

It INCLUDES ALL THE REMAINING TRACT OF THE SEA’ INSIDE THE PERIMETER OF THE RESERVE.

IN THIS AREA IS ALLOWED:

  • Commercial fishing, including that exerted by trawl, subject to the limitations established by the competent authorities in relation to the need for the biological rest;
  • Sport fishing;
  • The swimming and diving with or without breathing apparatus

 



OBSERVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE
WE RESPECT OURSELVES !


 

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