Marine Reserve Freu de Sa Dragonera

Freu de Sa Dragonera Marine Reserve features highly diverse habitats and species in a very small space. The posidonia meadows, which provide nurseries for species that are highly prized in Balearic cuisine, are particularly impressive.  

This reserve was created recently: it was approved in 2016 by the regional government and features 912 protected hectares. In 2020, Spain extended fishing protection across its whole perimeter and added 457 hectares, of which 82 hectares are fully protected reserves. All forms of fishing are prohibited in this area.

The underwater landscape is very diverse. Posidonia meadows are plentiful in areas closer to the coast, while the northern part of the reserve is dominated by large rocks which have fallen from the cliffs. These provide a shelter and natural nursery for species such as groupers, scorpion fish, sea bream and dentex, as well as crustaceans and other invertebrate species such as octopi.

Like the Malgrats Islands Marine Reserve, this is a Site of Community Importance (SCI), a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) and part of the marine environment of the Sa Dragonera Natural Park.