The Marine Protected Area Egadi Islands

Off the coast of Trapani we find the Egadi Islands. The Marine Reserve was established in 1991 and includes all three islands that make up the archipelago: Levanzo, Favignana and Marettimo. This reserve was established with the aim of giving protection to all marine species living in the waters of the great canyons that separate the three islands. The presence of mixed seabeds, rock and sand, has determined a unique biodiversity of its kind.

In Favignana the seabeds are sandy and host Posidonia andmollusksPavonica, two plant species of great importance. There are several interesting points not to be missed: Scoglio Corrente, Scoglio Palombo (where the wreck of a small merchant ship is located), Capo Grosso (here there are several rocky terraces that favor the presence of various animal and plant organisms) and the Cala Rossa inlet.

In general in the deepest areas it is possible to find cephalopods and mollusks such as polyps and octopuses. In these waters also lives the largest bivalve mollusk of the Mediterranean which is a protected and endangered species. In the waters closest to the island of Marettimo there are several colorful coral reef builders.