Portofino MPA

Portofino MPA Logo

The Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Portofino was established with the law of the Environment Department the 26th of April, 1999. The management in charge is composed of a Consortium which includes the municipalities of Camogli, Portofino, S. Margherita Ligure, the Province of Genoa and the University of Genoa. In 2005, Portofino MPA achieved SPAMI (Special Protected Area of Mediterranean Interest) status, or recognized by the Tunisian RAC/SPA under the Barcelona Convention Protocol as a coastal region of special interest at the scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational levels. The geomorphological features of the Promontory have determined an underwater environment very rich in crevices, roofs, and small caves favoring the development of a rich and highly diversified benthic fauna and flora. Portofino MPA represents one of the most important marine site in the whole of the Mediterranean for its abundance of the red coral population (the most important shallow-water coral population of the Ligurian Sea) and, in general, the luxuriant coralligenous community. This community flourishes on the submerged cliff and on the rocks, while coralligenous platforms develop off the rocky bottoms, at a depth of 60 to 100 m. Few other sites in Italy are as rich in species and in gorgonian populations as Portofino. The fish community is really interesting too, species like brown grouper, brown meagre, dentex and barracuda are a great attractive, especially, for diving tourism.