The silhouette of the Medes Islands is a national and international symbol of Estartit, and the importance of the fauna and the flora, both at the islands and in the seabed that is surrounding them.
It is a small archipelago placed approximately 1500 meters from Estartit's harbour. It is formed by 7 islands and an odd reef.
Since the 50’s, for many years, when people started to scuba dive, the resources of the area started being exploited by fishermen and people collecting coral, putting them in danger. Until then, who wanted to capture these species had to snorkel, so then it was more difficult, but the scuba diving allows people to stay under the water for a longer time, leading to a massive removal.
During a long period of time, what was most in danger was the red coral (Russelia equisetiformis), highly valued on the market, especially in jewelleries. The stripe (Potamotrygon potamotrygon) was also another species that was in danger, as for the gorgonians that were receiving a great number of visitors who were coming to the area to dive without having a good level in diving were allowing the flora not to get damaged.
In 1983 the Catalan government fixed an area were it is forbidden to fish, that was extended during the years up until 1990, where the Medes Islands was known as a major Natural Reservation of Catalonia and one of the most important of the Mediterranean.
In 2010 another step was taken to protect even more the flora and the fauna by declaring the archipelago as a National Protected Nature reserve. From this moment the area was emerged (the area of the Islands that you find on the surface) turning into an integral reservation and the marine peripheral area into a partial reservation.
The integral reservation supposes that people cannot accede to it, the only people allowed are the scientists and with an authorization.
The partial marine reservation implies that a limited number of people will only be able to accede to the area and with previous authorization.
We have many clients that have known perfectly well, the seabed of the Medas Islands for many years, because they have either been diving or have visited it by boat (or having visited it by snorkelling or by kayak). Estartit also has several diving centres with schools so that those interested can obtain the titles that they wish for diving.
We hope that this brief explication has helped to make knowledge of the extraordinary
importance and variety both of the flora and of the fauna that is possible to find in the Medes Islands and to invite you in your near visit to discover them with a trip by boat or diving in these waters.
