The reefs off Punta de la Mona are home to endangered species, amongst them coral colonies that are in a state of deterioration.

There is a colony of orange-coral (Dendrophyllia ramea) one of the largest in the Mediterranean yet some are broken and tangled with fishing lines.

Fortunately, a group of scientists belonging to Coral Soul and Coral Guardian, are doing something about it. They have formed a  new NGO, SOS Corales, and have installed two underwater nurseries so that this area off La Herradura can be repopulated.

Divers and researches from the universities in Cádiz, Sevilla and Granada are participating in the project. At the beginning of last month they placed two nurseries; one at a depth of 34 metres and the other at 37 metres. Some of these natural coral ‘gardens’ lie at a depth of 45 metres.

Marine Biologist, Marina Palacios, who has been working with cold-water corals for six years, coordinates the project to clean up and repair the coral beds. So far they have removed 800 kilos of rubbish. Only after such clean ups can the nurseries be set up.

It was in 2021 that they managed to set up a nursery 30 metres down which has managed to rescue 115 coral colonies. At the moment there are another 94 in recovery.

Fishing off the Punta is the main problem as 95% of the rubbish below the cliffs are  from fishing/angling, which is why the scientist are calling  on a ban from sports fishing in the area, “we are not against fishing itself but against the consequences off the Punta de la Mona – there are many other places to fish,” she explained.

(News: Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)