Nature & Environment

Sustainable Oceans: Almeria’s Alboran Sea Protected in Spain’s 2025 Marine Expansion

Published October 19, 2025 | Category: Nature & Environment

TL;DR: Spain has designated a vast 6,277 km² marine protected area off Almeria’s coast. The new “Banks and Gorges of the Alboran Sea” reinforces Natura 2000, safeguards deep-sea coral gardens and seven cetacean species, and pushes Spain toward its 30%-by-2030 ocean-protection goal.

Alboran Sea Marine Protected Area: Spain Expands Ocean Conservation off the Almeria Coast

Table of Contents

Where Exactly Is the Alboran Sea?
What’s Protected: Seamounts, Canyons & Cold-Water Corals
Who Lives Here: Whales, Dolphins, Turtles & Seabirds
Why This Area Matters: Atlantic–Mediterranean Mixing
The Legal Backbone: BOE Order, Natura 2000 & INTEMARES
What Changes Now: Management Plans & Precaution
Almeria’s Link: Research, Ports & Responsible Tourism
Threats & Challenges: From Trawling to Warming Seas
How to Visit Responsibly
Fast Facts & Timeline
Final Notes

Where Exactly Is the Alboran Sea?

The Alboran Sea is the westernmost basin of the Mediterranean, stretching between southern Spain and North Africa immediately east of the Strait of Gibraltar. Off Almeria’s coastline, Atlantic inflows meet warmer, saltier Mediterranean waters, creating a dynamic oceanographic “mixing zone” that fuels rich marine life. The newly designated protected site—formally named the Bancos y Cañones del mar de Alborán (Banks and Gorges of the Alboran Sea)—covers 6,277 km² of offshore habitat in this basin. The official order was published in Spain’s Official State Gazette on 7 October 2025.

What’s Protected: Seamounts, Canyons & Cold-Water Corals

At the heart of the designation are submarine mountains, ridges and canyons that rise sharply from the seafloor. These structures create upwellings that bring nutrients toward the surface—hotspots where food webs concentrate. Extensive surveys by Spain’s oceanographic research network describe deep, cold-water coral communities—Lophelia pertusa, Madrepora oculata—and benthic gardens of gorgonians, sponges and deep-sea mollusks thriving on these hard substrates. In plain language: they’re underwater oases, rare and fragile.

Geologically, the Alboran basin is complex and tectonically active. The interaction between seafloor topography and currents helps maintain cooler, oxygen-richer micro-habitats in a warming Mediterranean—one reason scientists pushed for protection here for more than two decades. Spain’s formal listing recognizes these ecological values within the EU Natura 2000 framework, which protects habitats and species of community interest.

Who Lives Here: Whales, Dolphins, Turtles & Seabirds

The new MPA serves as a feeding and migration corridor for at least seven cetacean species: bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), common (Delphinus delphis), and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba); Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus); short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas); fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus); and Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris). Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) also traverse this “Alboran corridor,” and pelagic birds use the area as a foraging ground.

Researchers note a spatial pattern: coastal-loving dolphins tend to cluster near shallower seamounts and around Alboran Island, while beaked and pilot whales track deeper isobaths near the 1,000-metre line—exactly the kind of topography safeguarded by the designation. Protecting such gradients is key to conserving the full cast of marine megafauna that make Almeria’s offshore waters unusually vibrant.

Why This Area Matters: Atlantic–Mediterranean Mixing

The Alboran Sea is where Atlantic inflows pulse into the Mediterranean as distinct jets and eddies. These flows—modulated by seafloor ridges and canyons—enhance nutrient availability and primary productivity, which scale up to fish, turtles and whales. In other words, the physics of the place is the biology. Spain’s marine strategy explicitly prioritizes such oceanographic “engines” as anchors of its protected-area network.

There’s a regional storyline here too. Almeria’s coast and ports sit at the doorstep of this offshore engine. From university labs to local tour operators, the mixing of waters offshore ties directly to life onshore—through fisheries, ecotourism and even climate moderation along the coast.

The Legal Backbone: BOE Order, Natura 2000 & INTEMARES

Legally, the Alboran MPA enters Spain’s Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) on the road to Special Area of Conservation status. The BOE order of 7 October 2025 details its boundaries, scientific justification and governance triggers. Once the European Commission validates the listing, Spain has up to six years to adopt a site-specific management plan.

The designation dovetails with LIFE INTEMARES, Spain’s EU-funded flagship to reach 30% marine protection by 2030. INTEMARES coordinates science, governance and capacity building nationwide—driven by Fundación Biodiversidad under the Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO). Spain’s latest steps added over 17,000 km² of marine protection across five new offshore sites, with the Alboran Banks & Gorges as a lead piece in the western Mediterranean.

What Changes Now: Management Plans & Precaution

Designation is stage one. Next comes a management plan defining conservation objectives, seasonal restrictions, and zoning (no-take cores, research corridors, sustainable-use buffers). Spain typically applies precautionary measures while these plans are drafted: tighter controls on bottom-contact fishing gear over sensitive substrates; limits on underwater noise; and vessel-speed advisories in cetacean zones. The plan will be prepared by national and regional authorities with fishers, scientists and NGOs, using INTEMARES protocols and EU Directives as guardrails.

On the science side, monitoring will rely on IEO-CSIC vessels, passive acoustic arrays, seabed mapping and ROV surveys to check coral health and fishing impacts. Spain’s June 2025 policy note underscores the link between new MPAs and funded monitoring & enforcement—a critical ingredient for turning lines on a map into real conservation gains.

Almeria’s Link: Research, Ports & Responsible Tourism

For Almeria, this is both ocean and identity. Offshore protection feeds back to coastal life through more resilient fisheries, cleaner beaches and a stronger nature brand. It also gives local universities, research centres and coastal operators a clear framework for blue-economy development grounded in conservation.

Research & Education. The University of Almeria and national institutes can leverage the MPA as a living lab—tracking whales and turtles, testing noise-reduction corridors, and studying how canyon upwellings affect productivity.
Ports & Circularity. The province is already piloting circular projects linking the sea and low-carbon fuel. See our feature: Plastic to Biodiesel in Almeria.
Responsible Marine Tourism. Dolphin- and whale-watching trips out of the Port of Almeria can incorporate citizen science and certified codes of conduct, transforming excursions into conservation experiences.

Threats & Challenges: From Trawling to Warming Seas

Cold-water corals are stunningly slow to grow; once damaged by bottom trawls or dumped gear, recovery can take decades to centuries. Beaked whales are highly sensitive to noise; turtles face bycatch risk; and the whole basin is warming and acidifying, altering carbonate chemistry that corals depend on. Effective management must therefore combine gear restrictions, noise mitigation, bycatch reduction and climate resilience—and fund them long-term. Spain’s 2025 agenda emphasizes new protected coverage paired with better tools for surveillance and stakeholder compliance.

Enforcement matters. If trawl tracks, illegal dumping or noisy transits persist over key habitats, the MPA risks becoming a paper park. INTEMARES gives Spain a platform and budget to step up monitoring and co-design solutions with the very communities that depend on the sea.

How to Visit Responsibly

Want to experience Almeria’s deep-blue frontier without leaving a footprint? A few simple choices go a long way:

Choose accredited operators that follow distance, speed and noise guidelines for whales and dolphins.
Pack out plastics—and pick up stray litter on beaches; the less that reaches the sea, the better for turtles and corals.
Keep it quiet on the water: steady speeds, no sudden accelerations, and avoid chasing wildlife.
Support citizen science: log sightings with the crew; these data help scientists map hotspots.

Fast Facts & Timeline

Official name: Bancos y Cañones del mar de Alborán (Banks & Gorges of the Alboran Sea)
Size: 6,277 km² offshore habitat in the Alboran basin
Wildlife: deep-sea corals (Lophelia, Madrepora), gorgonians, sponges; cetaceans including fin and beaked whales; loggerhead turtles
Programmes: Natura 2000 (EU Habitats/Birds Directives); LIFE INTEMARES; Spain target ≈ 30% by 2030
Next steps: EC validation; management plan within six years; precautionary measures in force meanwhile

Final Notes

The Alboran Sea has always been Almeria’s quiet neighbor—vast, blue and mostly out of sight. This new marine protected area brings it into focus. It recognizes an ocean engine where geology stirs currents, currents feed life, and life—in all its whale-and-coral strangeness—anchors a coastal identity. For Spain, it’s a strategic step toward a connected network of well-managed MPAs. For Almeria, it’s an invitation to tell a bigger story: sustainability here doesn’t stop at the shoreline—it reaches deep beneath the surface.

For official background and ongoing updates, see Spain’s MITECO brief, the BOE Order (7 Oct 2025), the LIFE INTEMARES programme via Fundación Biodiversidad, and the IEO-CSIC for scientific updates.

About the author

KAI is the Sustainability & Regional Development Analyst at VisitingAlmeria.com.
With over 18 years of local insight into Almeria’s evolving economy and environment, KAI explores how the province is transforming through innovation, renewable energy, and community-driven change.

For more updates from across the province, visit our Nature & Environment category.

Nature & Environment

Puerto de la Ragua Reopens | Limited Facilities Now, Full Comeback 2027

Published December 8, 2025 | Category: Travel Tips

TL;DR: Puerto de la Ragua, Almeria’s only winter resort, is reopening after five years — but only with basic services for now. Big upgrades are underway, with a full mountain-tourism transformation planned for 2027.

Puerto de la Ragua Reopens with Basic Services — Full Transformation Planned for 2027

Hidden high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, right on the boundary between Almeria and Granada, Puerto de la Ragua is preparing to welcome visitors again — slowly. After five years of closure, the winter resort is reopening with just two operational services: an information point and basic restrooms. What may seem like a modest restart today is actually the beginning of an ambitious relaunch that will reshape the future of this unique mountain location.

What’s Open Right Now?

The resort is entering a transitional phase. Visitors can freely access the surrounding natural environment — panoramic viewpoints, walking areas and trailheads — while staff provide essential information about routes, weather conditions and access. For now, the on-site information point will operate from 09:00 to 16:00, offering guidance for hikers, cyclists and winter travellers heading into the Sierra Nevada National Park.

Restroom facilities are also available, but there is no grooming of slopes, no cross-country skiing, no sledding and no equipment rental. That means the resort remains closed to winter sports for this season, and likely the next.

A Symbolic Reopening — And a First Step Forward

Before its closure, the area attracted up to 8,000 visitors per week during snowy spells. The local consortium responsible for managing the pass sees this phased reopening as a way to rebuild tourism gradually, strengthen access control and reconnect travellers with the region. In peak winter weekends, vehicle traffic often overwhelmed parking areas. Introducing services like possible shuttle buses between the nearby mountain towns of Nevada and Ferreira is already being considered to reduce congestion and preserve the natural environment.

Puerto de la Ragua’s location inside the Sierra Nevada National Park makes it a privileged high-altitude destination. At around 2,041 metres, it offers clean alpine air, quiet trails and the feeling of being truly immersed in nature. Reopening the area — even in a basic form — allows residents and travellers once again to explore one of the highest points accessible from Almeria province.

Nearly €2 Million in Works — And Up to 160 Beds

The future of Puerto de la Ragua depends on an extensive renovation of its main building, which will redefine the entire visitor experience. The investment, close to €2 million, is financed by the Provincial Council of Granada and the municipalities that make up the management consortium — including Bayarcal (Almeria), Nevada and Ferreira.

The former hostel will be modernised into a mountain refuge offering restaurant service, sports-equipment storage and rental, and multiple accommodation areas. Plans include:

Ground floor: bar-restaurant and four hostel-style rooms
Upper floor: seven rooms for overnight stays
Lower level: equipment hire and storage for snow and mountain sports

Once fully completed, the building could house up to 160 guests at the same time — transforming Puerto de la Ragua from a seasonal ski stop into a year-round adventure base. Management will remain in the hands of the existing inter-municipal consortium, backed by a dedicated budget of €1.67 million to launch this next phase.

From Cross-Country Skiing to Mountain Tourism

In the 1990s, the resort thrived thanks to the momentum of major events like the Alpine Ski World Championships in Sierra Nevada. Four cross-country circuits were developed and competitions were held at altitude. There were even dreams of Olympic events and university winter games. But the combination of environmental restrictions and limited snowfall — worsened by climate change — prevented artificial snowmaking and reduced the viability of a long Nordic skiing season.

Today, the strategic focus has shifted. Instead of relying on unpredictable snow, the region is investing in mountain sports, cycling tourism, hiking and nature-based activities. The goal: attract visitors not only in the depths of winter, but in spring, summer and autumn as well. This year-round perspective could help boost local employment and stimulate economic life in mountain areas affected by depopulation.

When Will Everything Be Ready?

If construction stays on schedule, the complete transformation of Puerto de la Ragua could be ready by late 2026 and consolidated in 2027. That would mark the start of fully restored facilities — accommodation, restaurants, organised access to nature activities and an updated tourism model built around sustainability.

Until then, this reopening is simply the first step: a symbolic return to life for a site with enormous potential — and one that holds a special place in Almeria as the province’s only winter resort.

For anyone who loves mountains, clean air and remote landscapes, Puerto de la Ragua might soon become one of the most exciting gateways to the natural side of southeastern Spain.

Want to discover more parks, nature routes and hidden landscapes? Explore our Travel Tips section.

Nature & Environment

Snow in Almeria: Calar Alto Turns White as Rain Reaches Much of the Province

Published December 1, 2025 | Category: Nature & Environment

TL;DR: Snow returned to the province on Sunday afternoon, covering Calar Alto in white and bringing steady rainfall to more than a dozen towns as cold winter air settled in.

Snow in Almeria Returns to Calar Alto as Widespread Rain Reaches Much of Almeria

Snow in Almeria made an early return this weekend as the highest peaks of the Sierra de los Filabres turned white once again. The Calar Alto area, home to one of Spain’s main high-altitude observatories, saw fresh snowfall on Sunday afternoon, marking one of the first notable winter episodes of the season.

At 2,168 metres above sea level, temperatures in Calar Alto dropped below zero, allowing snow to accumulate around the upper slopes and surrounding pine forests. The cold air mass has also brought a sharp temperature drop across inland municipalities, with places like Chirivel, Maria, Velez-Rubio and Velez-Blanco expected to fall close to 3ºC overnight.

Rainfall Across the Province

Alongside the snowfall, steady rain moved across a wide area of the province on Sunday. According to data from regional meteorological networks, Ohanes recorded the highest recent accumulation with nearly 6 litres per square metre in one hour. Felix also registered significant rainfall, followed closely by Canjayar and Abrucena.

In the western and central regions, towns such as Dalias, Enix, El Ejido and Roquetas de Mar measured between 3 and 4 litres per square metre during the afternoon. Lighter but continuous rainfall was also reported in Finana, Fondon, Illar, Vicar, La Mojonera, Alcolea and Berja.

Winter Conditions Settling In

With temperatures continuing to drop and rain spreading across much of the province, the transition into December is now clearly underway. More unsettled weather is expected in the coming days as the cold air mass remains over the region.

For more environmental updates from across the province, visit our Nature & Environment section.

Nature & Environment

Junta Rejects New Camping Project in Cabo de Gata

Published November 28, 2025 | Category: Nature & Environment

TL;DR: The regional government has rejected a proposed camping with 42 bungalows in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park because it was too close to an existing motorhome area.

Junta Blocks New Camping Project Near Cabo de Gata

A plan to build a camping complex with 42 bungalows in the La Joya area of Agua Amarga, inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, has been rejected by the regional government. The project, which included reception facilities, a restaurant, bar, small supermarket and leisure areas, has been denied unified environmental authorisation.

According to the Junta de Andalucía, the project is incompatible with the current planning rules for the natural park. One of the key points is distance: any new tourist camping site in this zone must be located at least six kilometres away from another existing campsite.

In this case, there is already an authorised motorhome area in Agua Amarga, just one kilometre from the proposed site. Under the current tourism regulations, this motorhome area is officially classified as a tourist camping, which means the new project would not meet the required separation distance.

The decision effectively halts the development and sends a clear signal that new tourist accommodation inside protected areas will be strictly evaluated against existing facilities and environmental rules.

For more stories about protected areas and environmental policy, visit our Nature & Environment section.

Infrastructure

Palomares PA-4 urbanisation project: environmental risks, nuclear legacy and coastal regression

Published November 16, 2025 | Category: Infrastructure

TL;DR: The Palomares PA-4 urbanisation project — a plan for 1,600 homes and a hotel on a fragile coastal area — has received regional approval despite flood risks, ecosystem vulnerability, water pressure and proximity to Palomares’ radiological monitoring zone. Environmental groups warn that the project ignores long-term climate projections and coastal regression.

Palomares PA-4 urbanisation project: a new mega-development

Overview
The nuclear legacy: why Palomares remains sensitive 60 years later
A fragile ecosystem: coastal sand formations, vegetation and biodiversity
Water pressure and desalination dependency in Levante Almeriense
Flood zones, sea-level rise and coastal regression
Urban planning timeline: an old licence in a new climate reality
The municipal position and the political dimension
Comparisons with Mojácar, Vera Playa and Terreros
Tourism, hotel capacity and economic expectations
Conclusion

Overview

The PA-4 urbanisation sector in Palomares proposes the construction of 1,600 homes and a hotel next to Quitapellejos beach, in one of the most environmentally delicate zones of Cuevas del Almanzora. The regional environmental ruling, issued by the Junta de Andalucía, concludes that the project is “compatible” as long as extensive conditions are met.

Environmental groups argue the opposite, warning that the project could damage fragile coastal habitats, increase flood risks and add population pressure to an area already experiencing water constraints and coastal regression.

Nuclear context surrounding the Palomares PA-4 urbanisation project

The 1966 accident involving US thermonuclear bombs dispersed plutonium dust over several hectares of Palomares. Although partially cleaned, the area still maintains monitored land under the supervision of CIEMAT.

The PA-4 area sits just outside the radiological perimeter, but environmental groups highlight that the contaminated soil has never been fully removed, and future decontamination could be complicated by large-scale residential occupation.

A fragile ecosystem: coastal sand formations, vegetation and biodiversity

The project area contains low coastal sand formations, halophytic vegetation and habitat zones identified as environmentally sensitive. The Spanish ruling explicitly acknowledges the presence of dunas and habitats of community interest, even if these formations are not visually large dunes.

Ecologists warn that proposed “restoration” and “transplanting” measures are unreliable, as coastal sand systems depend on wind dynamics, sediment supply and storm patterns that cannot be artificially replicated.

Water pressure and desalination dependency in Levante Almeriense

Over the past decade, water supply for Levante Almeriense has required emergency interventions. The region depends heavily on the Galasa network and the Carboneras desalination plant. The Junta accepts existing certificates but environmental groups argue that adding an estimated 4,000 new residents increases long-term vulnerability given past shortages and infrastructure failures.

Flood zones, sea-level rise and coastal regression

The Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica (MITECO) identifies the Quitapellejos sector as an area experiencing:

coastal regression,
stronger seasonal storms,
low land elevation,
increasing exposure due to climate change.

The original planning documents proposed channelling rainwater through streets towards the shoreline—an approach ecologists consider unacceptable under modern coastal-risk standards.

Urban planning timeline: an old licence in a new climate reality

The PA-4 sector holds longstanding urbanisation rights dating back decades. This older licence underpins the current project, despite being drafted in a period without today’s climate science, sea-level projections or updated coastal protection laws.

Environmental organisations argue that inactivity over such a long time should invalidate the licence; however, the Junta has not questioned its validity.

The municipal position and the political dimension

The Ayuntamiento de Cuevas del Almanzora supports the project, citing a lack of hotel beds, economic benefits and competition with neighbouring coastal towns. The position has remained consistent across political parties.

Environmental groups counter that PA-4 is the wrong location for high-density development due to flood risks, ecosystem fragility and the still-unresolved radiological legacy.

Comparisons with Mojácar, Vera Playa and Terreros

Supporters compare the project to existing developed areas such as Mojácar and Vera Playa. Ecologists argue that these comparisons ignore fundamental differences:

Mojácar has a longer and more stable coastline.
Vera Playa was urbanised before modern regulations.
Terreros shows the risk of speculative projects that leave unfinished streets and infrastructure.

Tourism, hotel capacity and economic expectations

Cuevas del Almanzora lacks hotel accommodation, and supporters argue a new hotel could stimulate tourism. However, ecologists warn that:

Water demand will increase.
Sewage systems depending on pumping stations are vulnerable to storms.
Flood-exposed coastal real estate may be risky long-term.

Conclusion

The approval of the Palomares PA-4 urbanisation project highlights the ongoing tension between economic development and environmental protection along Almeria’s fragile coastline. While technically allowed under strict conditions, the combined risks — coastal regression, flood exposure, ecosystem fragility and proximity to monitored nuclear-contaminated land — raise questions about its long-term sustainability.

For more updates from across the province, visit our Nature & Environment category.