Cap de Creus protects the eastern Pyrenees where they plunge into the Mediterranean. Exposed headlands, submarine cliffs, rocky reefs, coralligenous communities and seagrass support diverse wildlife and traditional small-scale fisheries.
Cap de Creus (ES512043)
Why it is protected
Conserve the park’s distinctive coastal and underwater geological landscape.
Protect marine habitats and resources through regulated fishing, diving, boating and anchoring.
Habitats and significant life
Habitats: Submarine cliff, Rocky reef, Coralligenous habitat, Seagrass meadow, Submarine canyon.
Significant species: Red coral, Dusky grouper, Bottlenose dolphin, Posidonia oceanica, Mediterranean reef fish.
Rules and activities
A use and management plan approved in 2025 regulates diving, fishing, navigation, anchoring and commercial nautical activities.
Restrictions differ among the marine park and nature-reserve sectors.
Governance
Government of Catalonia natural parks service; Cap de Creus Natural Park; Local fishing and maritime authorities.
Pressures
Fishing pressure; Anchoring; High recreational use; Marine heatwaves; Invasive species.
Protection effectiveness
These dimensions are intentionally separate: a valid designation or active management program does not, by itself, prove ecological recovery.
Habitats and marine life connections
Ecologically related protected areas
These places share documented habitat types or the same ocean region. The relationship is ecological context, not proof of direct connectivity.
Condition and evidence
MLL reports what the available evidence supports. It does not infer ecological health from designation or mapped coverage.
Cause for concern
The concern signal reflects the scoped evidence described below; it is not a whole-area health grade.
Ecological Condition
Cause for concernLong-term small-scale fishery indicators showed declining yields
- Evidence period
- monitoring since 2008; synthesis published before the 2025 plan
- Geographic scope
- Protected feature or area described by the source
- Confidence
- moderate
- Reviewed
- 2026-09-12
How to read this: Insufficient evidence means the available evidence cannot support a conclusion. It does not mean the MPA is in poor condition.
Long-term small-scale fishery indicators showed declining yields. Confidence: moderate. The trend concerns monitored fishery resources and does not establish whole-park ecological decline.
Sources
Cap de Creus Natural Park marine-use plan — Government of Catalonia. Verified 2026-09-13.