Uniqueness or rarity
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Marine Environment Protection Committee - Resolution MEPC.204(62) – Designation of the Straight of Bonifacio as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area – (Adopted on 15 July 2011) - Annex 2 - Ecological, Socio-Economic, and Scientific Attributes of the Strait of Bonifacio PSSA1 - 1 Ecological criteria - Uniqueness or rarity

Uniqueness or rarity

  1.9 The Strait of Bonifacio area contains 37 per cent of species of Mediterranean importance (SPAMI Annex II and III, Barcelona Convention). The flora includes some 15 endemic species (Corsican or Corsican-Sardinian or Corsican/Sardinian/ Balearic), with one endemic to the island of Lavezzu.

  1.10 The area contains between 40 and 50 per cent of the sites for Silene velutina, a small endemic flower whose distribution is limited to the extreme south of Corsica and the north of Sardinia. Another protected plant belonging to the first rank in terms of floral heritage is Limonium lambinonii, which is endemic to Lavezzu island.

  1.11 The leatherback turtle has not been seen here since the 1960s, but the loggerhead turtle has been spotted more regularly in the Strait of Bonifacio in the past decade. In October 2001 its nests were even discovered on the beaches of Palombaggia, south of the Cerbicale archipelago.

  1.12 While the alga Goniolothon byssoides is difficult not to notice, sightings are very rare. It appears to be vulnerable, given the small number of sites where it can be found. Also, its pads detach very easily, making it highly vulnerable to trampling by fishermen and swimmers (Boudouresque et al., 1990). Verlaque (1991) noted its presence around the Lavezzi Islands.

Parent topic: 1 Ecological criteria
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