CABRAS AND FRADINHOS, TERCEIRA ISLAND, AZORES

Portugal

Co-ordinates: 38º37’40’’N; 27º08’44’’W	Myliobatis aquila at a cave in Ilhéus das Cabras. Photo L Quinta ImagDOP

Conservation status:

0

1

2

3

4

Description of site:

Group of islets on the South coast of Terceira island, 1 to 5 km away from the shore. Reef habitats support typical semi-offshore marine biodiversity.

Human impact:

The area is not subjected to pollution. Artisanal fishing and tourism activities occur within the site.

Commitment and ongoing research:

The area is important for the conservation of birds and presents shallow bottoms that still hold communities subject to low fishing pressure. The University pole in Terceira island houses a small marine biology team which has conducted research on fish communities and marine ecology in general. A few papers and reports dealing mainly with fish and seabirds have been published, resulting from the University research. Other papers deal with exploitation and conservation aspects.

Habitats present:

	Mud	Sand	Rock
Intertidal			X
Subtidal		X	X
Seagrass beds

Facilities:

There is one University Department that conducts research in the area, and that can serve as operational basis. Small vessels from several nearby harbours can easily access the area. The island is served by regular flights.

Description of fauna and flora:

The site includes reefs, caves, boulder fields and sandy bottoms down to 120 m. Mobile organisms like nudibranchs, such as Hypselodoris picta azorica and Glossodoris edmunsi, crustaceans, as Scyllarides latus and Maja capensis, fishes, as Anthias anthias, Diplodus sargus cadenati and Epinephelus marginatus, and large pelagic fishes, as Sphyraena viridensis and Seriola spp., are present in the area. In the southern part of the western Ilhéu das Cabras there is a cave (locally known as “Gruta dos Ratões”) with high densities of Myliobatis aquila.

Available database and website:

http://www.horta.uac.pt/scubazores/Terceira/CabrasFradinhos.htm

Made under the support of: