L’ Marine Protected Area Egadi is perhaps the queen among the marine reserves of Italy, boasting the largest marine reserve title in Europe, the presence of the prairie of Posidonia more extensive and best preserved oceanic of the Mediterranean, e, above all, The sensational return of the Munich seal, The protected species symbol of our seas.
Seabed, Fauna and flora include peculiarities of extraordinary conservation value from Vermetidi sidewalk, over 70 dive, populated by forests of Gorgonies and coralligen among the most significant, with hundreds of submersed and semi -memommersa caves.
It hosts a community among which protected species stand out, con sea turtles, whale (Capodogli), dolphins (Tursiopi and Stenle), sharks, races, red tuna benches (to which the centuries -old tradition of tonnares is due, today abandoned but extraordinary monument of industrial archeology), a very varied fish fauna and strongly resumed by number of species and size.
A formidable lung of biodiversity, Immersed in a clear sea with Polynesian colors, meeting point of currents from all over the Mediterranean and from the Atlantic Ocean. Place of fun and relaxation par excellence, with bathing numbers, deportist, Underwater and hiking worthy of the most renowned destinations in Italy, which, however, is not knowing the crisis and which today is well combined, After the initial suspicions, with the reasons for the protection of the reserve.
But also islands of tenacious fishermen and important marineries, where professional fishing is intertwined with the tradition and identity of the places and not backward, in numbers, Despite the situation of the sector.
An archipelago where the whole economy revolves around tourism and environmental assets, With growing attention to sustainability themes. In recent years this protected marine area has achieved extraordinary results in terms of protection (The dissuasion of illegal train, The regulated parking of boats without; Damage to the seabed, The repression of abuses), management (for example by the Ministry of the Environment, with important employment repercussions), Research and monitoring (on the nun seal, on Posidonia); And he began to intertwine his path with that of the local community, involving fishermen and socio-economic operators of tourism.
This text, Born on the initiative of the Department of Earth and Sea Sciences of the University of Palermo, He wants to illustrate the most suggestive submerged itineraries of the archipelago and promote an eco -sustainable activity by definition – the diver = that here at Egadi he has not yet developed his extraordinary potential.
We also wanted to dedicate ample space to snorkeling, Guided bathing activities with mask and mouthpiece, which allows you to approach the sea and its submerged secrets also to the much wider audience than the common tourist. All with a manual full of information to move in the depths of the sea, To recognize habitats and species, and to understand closely the reasons and the effects of protection.
Good dip in the blue of the Egadi, a marine area to be protected together !
Stefano Donati, June 2014
Taken from the volume: AMP Egadi, Unipa
