Between the coastal towns of Roquetas de Mar and Aguadulce is one of the few Posidonia reefs that remain on the Mediterranean coast: the Posidonia Barrier Reef Natural Monument. It is a gem unique to this area of coast, a remnant of the reefs that once abounded in this area.

This marine plant, called Posidonia sea grass , has very special qualities. It has long, green, leaves, shaped in strips that reach up to one metre in length. They hold onto the sea bed with a dense network of stems and small roots. The large coastal meadows of this plant help to stabilise sediments and sand from the coast, forming a barrier that efficiently prevents sand loss from the beaches.

Furthermore, these formations are home to a large community of marine fauna, with fish, shrimps, crabs and sponges. Here they find an ideal place to shelter, feed and reproduce. This species requires specific environmental conditions to survive, with clean, oxygen-rich water without sudden changes of temperature and salinity and, of course, free from pollution.

Close by is the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park , with outstanding natural and cultural heritage. There are vestiges of human settlements dating back as far as the Neolithic period, and from the times of the Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans. There are remains like that of the Roman town Tauriana, located in the Los Bajos area of Roquetas, where you can also visit Santa Ana Castle.

The Life+ Posidonia project (www.lifeposidoniandalucia.es) has established a permanent station for monitoring the meadow within the POSIMED Andalusia Network. The monitoring is carried out by technicians from the Marine Environment Program department. In the annual monitoring performed at the station, data of the density and coverage are obtained, among other descriptors, and a demographic study of Posidonia sea grass is carried out .


Divers, fishermen and vessels can consult PubIications for recommendations.