The Undersea Mountains of Ibiza

Published 12 August 2010 Stephen White.

Tags: Ibiza News

carnivorous sponges

The sea between Ibiza and Mallorca, known as the Mallorca Channel, has recently been the subject of an intense survey by Oceana, the organisation founded in 2001 to preserve the world's oceans and marine ecosystems and species.

In a vast area of around 250,000 hectares up to 700 metres deep, there are three giant undersea mountains, Ses Olives, Ausias March and Emile Baudot, pinacles of volcanoes long since extinct, 300 species of fish and invertebrates and vast gardens of gorgonians (aquatic plants), black coral and carnivorous sponges.

Oceana would like this part of the Mediterranean to be an officially protected area as, to date, none of the Med's undersea mountains are protected and doing so would enable the gathering of information on species and habitats which are vitally important to the health of the sea.

Here are some photos we've been given by Oceana

Blackbelly Rosefish

Gorgonian

Crab with a sponge

Spotted Ray

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