A coral garden on the coasts of Granada
In the seabeds of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of the Cliffs and Seabeds of Punta de la Mona, off the coast of the province of Granada, lies one of the most significant populations of Orange Tree Coral in the Mediterranean and unique in the world, making this area an ecosystem of immeasurable ecological importance. For this reason, both the SAC and the “Habitat of Community Interest HIC 1170: Reefs” are included in the Natura 2000 Network.
The rocky mass forming the cliffs of Punta de la Mona extends into the water down to 49 meters, creating three underwater canyons. After conducting a bathymetric scan of the seabed and hydrodynamic studies through the installation of current meters, we discovered that the underwater canyons and currents in the area cause deep water to rise, creating environmental conditions that usually occur at greater depths. This allows the orange tree coral population of Punta de la Mona to live between 30–50 meters deep (normally it lives between 40–180 meters).
This population of orange tree coral forms the foundation of the valuable seabed ecosystem of Punta de la Mona. Many species depend directly on the presence of these important organisms, which provide substrate for settlement, shelter, and even sites for recruitment and egg-laying. Therefore, the survival and health of all species in the area are directly linked to the condition of the reef.