Islas e Islotes del Mar Mediterráneo

Islas e Islotes del Mar Mediterráneo is a network of 18 islands and islets scattered along the coastline of the Murcia region in southeastern Spain, spanning several municipalities including Cartagena, Águilas, Mazarrón, and San Javier. Though individually small, together these islets form a habitat corridor that is essential for seabirds and coastal vegetation along this stretch of Mediterranean shore.

Why are these islands protected?

The area holds status as a Site of Community Importance (LIC) within the Natura 2000 network, reflecting its recognized ecological value at the European level. Some of the islands, such as Isla de las Palomas and Islas Hormigas, carry the additional designation of Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) and are also classified as Wildlife Protection Zones under regional law (Ley 7/1995). Four types of habitats of Community interest have been identified across the territory.

What birds live here?

The islands provide refuge for several particularly sensitive seabird species. Peregrine falcons nest here, alongside Audouin's gull — a species endemic to the Mediterranean basin and one of the rarer gulls in the world — as well as the Mediterranean shearwater and the European storm-petrel, a small, nocturnal pelagic bird that only comes ashore to breed. The presence of these species gives the archipelago significance that extends well beyond the local level, contributing to seabird conservation across the wider Mediterranean.

What can you see from land or sea?

Because the islands are spread out along the coast, they are best appreciated from the water — whether on a boat trip or by kayak. Their small size and rocky character have kept most of them uninhabited and free of development, which has allowed the halophilic and coastal vegetation typical of this dry Mediterranean climate to persist largely undisturbed.

Where exactly are they located?

The area's central coordinates sit at approximately 37.5043°N, -1.1371°E, roughly level with Cartagena, one of the main port cities in the Murcia region. The individual islands, however, stretch across a much wider section of coastline, extending toward Águilas to the southwest and toward San Javier and the Mar Menor lagoon to the northeast.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors access these islands? Due to their protected status, access to most of the islands is restricted, and some — particularly those with ZEPA designation — are subject to additional rules aimed at protecting breeding bird colonies. It's worth checking current access regulations before planning a visit.

How do the individual islands within the archipelago differ? Although they form a single protected area on paper, the islands vary in size, terrain, and ecological role — some function mainly as bird breeding grounds, while others are more significant for their coastal plant life.

Why do these islands deserve protection? Their isolation from the mainland and lack of permanent development have made them one of the last safe strongholds for declining seabird species in this part of the Mediterranean, including the rare Audouin's gull.