Isola di Ustica Marine Protected Area
The first marine protected area in Italy: forty years of protection as a reference.
- Authorities
- Area Marina Protetta Isola di Ustica
- Marine protection
- MPA zones A, B and C
- Pelagos Sanctuary
- outside
- Diving partner
- Ustica Diving
The marine protected area
The Area Marina Protetta (AMP, marine protected area) "Isola di Ustica" was established by interministerial decree of 12 November 1986, the first in Italy together with Miramare. The volcanic island, about 60 km north of Palermo, is surrounded by more than 15,000 hectares of protected sea. The MPA is managed by the Comune di Ustica (the municipality). On land the Sicilian Region established a managed nature reserve in 1997 and the coastal strip is an SPA (ITA020010, Special Protection Area of the Natura 2000 network). Official information: Isola di Ustica MPA.
Zoning
The MPA's zoning includes a zone A of strict reserve of about 60 hectares on the north-western side, where bathing is allowed only at Cala Sidoti and Caletta, a zone B of general reserve of about 8,000 hectares, extending up to 3 miles, and a zone C of partial reserve in the southern sector.
Value for the project
Ustica represents the longest-standing and strongest protection, and is the only location outside the Pelagos Sanctuary. Stations in zone A and zone B, compared with the other locations, make it possible to estimate the "reserve effect" on indicator species such as the dusky grouper. The long history of studies on the island, also gathered by the Centro Studi e Documentazione Isola di Ustica (Ustica Island Study and Documentation Centre), offers valuable comparison data. The proposed stations are on the map; positions and zones are a proposal to be validated with the MPA.
Local partners
- Area Marina Protetta Isola di Ustica, the reference body.
- Ustica Diving, partner for activities at sea (usticadiving.it).
- University of Palermo.
- Centro Studi e Documentazione Isola di Ustica.
Campaigns at Ustica follow the same simultaneous weeks as the other locations; training follows a dedicated calendar.
Authorisations
A preliminary survey, not a legal opinion: each body has its own regulations, updated periodically.
- MPA authorisation for research, in particular in zone A.
- Compliance with the MPA regulations in zones B and C.
- Everywhere: no collecting or handling of protected species.
Stations
The same stations are listed in the table below. Positions are indicative, to be checked at sea and with the authorities.
| Code | Station | Type | Protection level | Status | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UST-01 | Cala Sidoti (zona A) | Snorkelling | L1 · strict reserve | Proposed, to be validated with the authority | 38.71377, 13.15420 |
| UST-02 | Punta Spalmatore | Reference | to be assigned | Proposed, to be validated with the authority | 38.70086, 13.15146 |
| UST-03 | Scoglio del Medico | Dive | to be assigned | Proposed, to be validated with the authority | 38.70446, 13.15469 |
| UST-04 | Secca della Colombara | Dive | to be assigned | Proposed, to be validated with the authority | 38.72241, 13.18186 |
| UST-05 | Punta Gavazzi | Dive | to be assigned | Proposed, to be validated with the authority | 38.69144, 13.17829 |
| UST-06 | Cala Santa Maria | Snorkelling | to be assigned | Proposed, to be validated with the authority | 38.70645, 13.20060 |
| UST-07 | Grotta Azzurra | Snorkelling | to be assigned | Proposed, to be validated with the authority | 38.70432, 13.19814 |
Training calendar
The calendar of courses, briefings and lessons for this area is being prepared with the diving partner.