Strait of Bonifacio natural reserve, Marine protected area in southern Corsica, France
The Strait of Bonifacio Natural Reserve is a marine protected area of about 79,460 hectares, mostly sea, between southern Corsica and Sardinia. It runs from the Îles des Moines and Bruzzi islets west to the Pointe de la Chiappa east, and includes the Lavezzi and Cerbicale islets, the Ventilegne lagoon, the Bonifacio cliffs and Cap de Pertusato. Its limestone cliffs and granite chaos shelter Posidonia meadows and coralligenous reefs.
The area was established as a protection zone in 1999 to preserve the natural resources of the maritime corridor. This decision recognized the ecological importance of the strait for the entire Mediterranean region.
The reserve's name comes from the Strait of Bonifacio, the Corsican channel facing Sardinia. Since 1995 the project has been framed as the French part of a future international Corsican-Sardinian marine park including part of the Maddalena archipelago. The Lavezzi islands alone receive over 150,000 visitors a year, and on some August afternoons 20,000 people are counted across the reserve.
Visitors can reach the area with boat services from Bonifacio, with guided tours available to explore the marine landscape. The best time to visit is during the warmer months when weather is stable and boat trips are more comfortable.
The area is home to an exceptional concentration of rare Mediterranean species and supports cross-border protection programs between France and Italy. This international cooperation makes it a model for coordinated conservation efforts in the Mediterranean.
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