7ES033 Mar Menor
Coordinates: 37º43'N - 000º48'W Elevation: 0 m. Area:14,933 ha
Location:
Mar Menor is located northeast of the city of Cartagena, in the province of Murcia, autonomous region of Murcia, on the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain.
Criteria:
1a, 2c, 2d, 3b, 3c
The site is of special botanical importance for its well-developed communities of halophytic and sand dune vegetations. Notable amongst the fish fauna is the Iberian endemic Aphanius iberus. The site is important for nesting, staging and wintering birds. Breeding species include Burhinus oedicnemus, Himantopus himantopus, Recurvirostra avosetta, Charadrius alexandrinus and Sterna albifrons. The globally threatened Marmaronetta angustirostris occurs regularly and may breed. Non-breeding species include Podiceps nigricollis (up to 2,000 in autumn) and Phoenicopterus ruber (up to 1,400 in August/September).
Wetland Types:
J, E, H, N, 5 (dominant type listed first)
The main part of the site is the saline lagoon, but there are also sandy shores and dunes, saltmarshes, freshwater streams and saltpans for salt extraction
Biological/
Ecological notes
The bottom of the lagoon is largely covered by beds of Caulerpa prolifera (algae) and marine phanerogams (e.g. Cymodocea nodosa), with Ruppia cirrhosa in some areas. One of the most important areas is the saltpan and dune complex of San Pedro del Pinatar on the northern side of the lagoon, with 460 ha of saltpans. Lo Pollo is an important area along the southern and western shoreline, including a full range of lagoon, beach, and dune barrier habitats, together with abandoned saltpans.
Hydrological/
Physical notes
 The Mar Menor is the largest lagoon of the Spanish Mediterranean coast (average depth 4 m, maximum 6.5 m), and has a salinity (42-47g per litre) greater than the Mediterranean Sea because of low precipitation and high evaporation rates. The coastline is low-lying, with sandy or rocky beaches and negligible tidal influence. La Manga, a sand bar of 24 km length and a maximum width of 900 m, separates the lagoon from the Mediterranean. In the lagoon there are five islands. The communication between the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean occurs through golas (shallow channels). The lagoon receives run-off from various temporary water courses called ramblas. These are wide, shallow gullies, which are generally inactive, but carry great quantities of water and sediment when it rains. The torrential nature of the supplies is also due to the impermeable soils and the scarce vegetation cover of the headwaters in the catchment areas.
Human uses
There are dense urban and touristic developments on the shores of the Mar Menor. Notably at La Manga, industrial activities on the salt pans of San Pedro, Marchmalo and Rasall, and agriculture along the inner shores, with irrigated crops. There is military activity at San Javier, Cabezo Air Base and Carmol¡ Marines. Fishing in the lagoon is declining. Large parts are only extensively used for grazing, recreation and hunting.

Conservation
Measures

Parts of the site have a status as Regional Park (Parque Regional de las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Piantar, 790 ha, and Parque Regional de Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del Aguila, 2,528 ha). Part is a Protected Landscape (Paisaje Protegido de los Espacios Abiertos e Islas del Mar Menor, 1,154 ha). A management plan is being implemented. The EU LIFE programme supported a major project for the management of arid zone wetlands in Murcia, with some 860,000 ECUs allocated to wetlands around the Mar Menor during the period 1994-1996. Activities included setting up monitoring and research programmes, campaigns for cleaning-up and restoring degraded wetlands, and facilities for the public.
Adverse
Factors 		There are significant pressures on the site from tourism, urban development, military activities, and pollution.
References