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Assessment of conservation value of Cap des Trois Fourches (Morocco) as a potential MPA in southern Mediterranean

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Abstract

The marine habitats surrounding Cap des Trois Fourches (Mediterranean coast of Morocco) was explored in the framework of the MedMPAnet Project. Ten different communities were identified in the studied area, among which it is remarkable the presence of some key conservational habitats: seagrass meadows, dark and semidark cave communities, maërl beds and corraligenous assemblages. All the data was included in a GIS program (Geographic Information System) to elaborate a cartographic map of marine communities and species distribution. All the scientific data obtained support the proposal of Cap des Trois Fourches as a marine protected area. We also provided a map of management, suggesting the stricter protection of the areas with higher conservational interest.

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Acknowledgments

Surveys undertaken in the Cap des Trois Fourches (Northern Morocco) were conducted within the framework of the MedMPAnet Project implemented by UNEP/MAP-RAC/SPA in close collaboration with the Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification (HCEFLCD) and financially supported by RAC/SPA, the European Commission (EC), the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation to Development (AECID), and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM). We also thank to Hassan and his family for their logistic field support. We express our gratitude to anonymous referees that have greatly improved the original manuscript with their criticisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Sevilla, Spain

    F. Espinosa, C. Navarro-Barranco, A. R. González & M. Maestre

  2. Geographica S.L., Avda. Grecia 8, 41012, Sevilla, Spain

    J. P. Alcántara

  3. Regionally Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas, Boulevard du Leader Yasser Arafat, B.P. 337–1080, Tunis-Cedex, Tunisia

    A. Limam

  4. Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed V, 4 Avenue Ibn Battouta, B.P. 1014 RP, Rabat, Morocco

    A. Benhoussa & H. Bazairi

Authors
  1. F. Espinosa
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  2. C. Navarro-Barranco
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  3. A. R. González
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  4. M. Maestre
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  5. J. P. Alcántara
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  6. A. Limam
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  7. A. Benhoussa
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  8. H. Bazairi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Espinosa.

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Espinosa, F., Navarro-Barranco, C., González, A.R. et al. Assessment of conservation value of Cap des Trois Fourches (Morocco) as a potential MPA in southern Mediterranean. J Coast Conserv 19, 553–559 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-015-0406-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-015-0406-8

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