Seahorse, sea cucumber and red coral, all species that occur in the waters of the Algarve, are already protected species. È that, in order to implement the Marine Horse Safeguard Plan, Decree-Law nº 31/38 was published on the 2021st of May, which attributes a protection regime to some species not covered by the annexes to the Berne and Bonn Conventions, but also in need of protective measures.
Among the measures to be adopted with a view to safeguarding seahorses in the Ria Formosa, the one considered most important is the creation of refuge areas where human uses and activities are restricted as much as possible. So, in March of last year, two refuge areas were created, established by notices published by the captaincies of Faro and Olhão.
In addition, «concrete measures and actions will also be implemented with a view to the effectiveness of the role and function of refuge areas, promoting a paradigm shift in the uses and activities within the Ria Formosa Natural Park area, bringing Ria users into individuals and people in general, for the causes of nature conservation, encouraging them to get involved in decision-making processes».
Joaquim Castelão Rodrigues, regional director of the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), explained to Sul Informação that, in order to implement the aforementioned measures, «a working document was prepared by a group of entities, which was called the Plan for the Safeguarding of Seahorses in the Ria Formosa, which provides for the implementation of a set of measures, which have already are on the march”.
These measures include training and environmental education, awareness-raising campaigns with the design of leaflets and posters, the delimitation of two refuge areas, with the drafting of notices by the Captaincies, the work that has been developed in relation to the founders and poaching, the creation of joint surveillance and inspection teams in the Ria Formosa.
The creation, implementation and regulation of the anchorages in the lagoon area of Ria Formosa, foreseen in its planning plan, is still ongoing. The creation of anchoring rules in the lagoon area adjacent to the refuge area, survey of the natural values present in the anchorage areas, and also the implementation of anchorage areas in the lagoon area of Ria Formosa are foreseen.
On the other hand, the mapping of areas used by rod trawl gear is ongoing, with the aim of containing illegal fishing.
The seahorse, an emblematic species of the Ria Formosa, has in this lagoon area one of the largest colonies in the world. However, its poaching (for pharmacological purposes and for aquariums) and the destruction of its habitat has put the seahorse in danger of extinction.
But, in addition to the seahorse, Decree-Law No. 38/2021 also extends the classification to two other marine species: the sea cucumber or sea cucumber and the red coral. These are species that have also been the target of depredation in recent years, due to their illegal harvesting.
Click here to know, in full, Decree-Law No. 38/2021 of May 31 (PDF)
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