Banks of Marettimo (ITA010033)
Site type: SIC Site of Community Interest
Code: ITA010033 - Hectares: 6169
Description:
The bottom of the East Bank is made up of detritus with low rocks, colonized almost mainly by Acanthogorgia hirsuta. There are also gorgonians
Villogogia bebrycoides and some Callogorgia verticillata, epibionate from Epizoanthus sp. and on which we observe the gorgon star Astrospartus mediterraneum. The
rocky outcrops are separated from each other by a detrital bed where the presence of Pennatula rubra is recorded. At -350 m there are very abundant fish such as
Coelorinuchus sp., Phycis blennoides, Chlorophthalmus agassizi, Capro know, Nezumia sp. and many crustaceans, especially shrimps (Plesionika sp.) e
cephalopods. In the western bank of Marettimo there is the presence of one of the largest forests of black corals in the Mediterranean, where all 4 species share
the space, forming a single facies for hundreds of meters, completely colonizing the rocky substrate and presenting itself very aggregated. The most species
Leiopathes glaberrima was abundant, able to grow even on bricks, found on the seabed, probably used for fishing. It records the
presence of Viminella flagellum gorgonians, Acanthogorgia hirsuta and Alcyonium sp .. In this luxuriant area, very few fishing gear are lost.
Other areas are strongly impacted by the presence of abandoned lines and nets. A zoanthid is observed growing as an epibiont on black coral branches
but also on the rocky walls and on the nets. Also present are colonies of Callogorgia verticillata and Dendrophyllia cornigera and the stone sponges Litistidae. At about 240 m
deep, the bottom is completely dominated by the Acanthogorgia hirsuta facies with some colony of Eunicella cavolini, Corallium rubrum, Villogorgia
bebrycoides, Viminella flagellum and several colonies of Dendrophyllia cornigera. Of particular relevance is the presence of white corals, with live colonies of
Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa. The fish fauna is very rich: drum fish (Macroramphosus scolopax), scorpion fish (Scorpaena sp), St. Peter's fish (Zeus
faber), we note the presence of the very rare Haifa grouper (Hyporthodus haifensis) and among the elasmobranchs numerous catshark (Scyliorhinus stellaris and S. canicula) and
a cow shark (Hexanchus griseus), lastly the presence of numerous shrimps (Plesionika sp) is remarkable.
4.2Quality and importance
Presence of one of the largest black coral forests in the Mediterranean, where all 4 species share space, forming a single facies for hundreds of
meters, completely colonizing the rocky substratum and appearing very aggregated. The most abundant species was Leiopathes glaberrima, able
to grow also on bricks, found on the seabed, probably used for fishing. There is also the presence of Viminella flagellum gorgonians,
Acanthogorgia hirsuta and Alcyonium sp.
Ministerial data: Natura 2000 form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily
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