SPA/RAC:Protecting biodiversity along the Montenegrin coast

From 25 October to 3 November, 2011, SPA/RAC undertook a rapid assessment of benthic habitats on the southern coast of Montenegro, between Bar and Ulcinj and on the Bay of Kotor, with the involvement of national experts from the Institute of Marine Biology of Kotor and the Nautilus local NGO, as well as international experts.

The survey included a quantitative assessment of the benthic and fish assemblages on twelve sites by SCUBA diving. A list of the most frequent and abundant benthic species was also collected, together with photographic documentation.

The results of this study, complementing those of a previous survey supported by SPA/RAC in 2008, led to the identification of five sites of conservation importance: (i) Platamuni area, (ii) Petrovac area, (iii) Bay of Kotor (its Coralligenous and Cnidarian/Sponge assemblages), (iv) the area between Stari Ulcinj and Rt Mendra lighthouse, and (v) Seka Albaneze area.