Marine Reserve Es Freus d'Eivissa i Formentera

Els Freus Marine Reserve of Ibiza and Formentera is a beautiful spot, which provides a refuge for numerous species and a fortification protecting a true marine treasure: its posidonia meadows, considered the green lung of the Mediterranean and declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. 

It is the second largest marine reserve in the Spanish Mediterranean after the Migjorn reserve in Majorca. It includes the far south of Pitiusa Mayor and the north and west of Pitiusa Menor, as well as the area between them. It was created in 1999 to protect ecosystems and recover species and areas of high ecological value that were threatened by intense human activity. 

These include posidonia, a marine plant (not a type of algae) endemic to the Mediterranean. It releases more oxygen into the atmosphere than forests on land. This plant serves as a refuge for small marine animals and slows down beach erosion thanks to the dry leaves that accumulate on the shore. 

It is a very valuable plant, and protecting it is essential. The anchoring of boats, spearfishing and sport fishing are therefore prohibited.

The seabed of Els Freus Reserve of Ibiza and Formentera is also populated by over 750 species, as well as several communities of algae that demonstrate the excellent water quality. There are also brown meagres, groupers, dentex and sea bream, which can be observed relatively easily nowadays thanks to the fishing restrictions imposed.