Plemmirio, Marine protected area near Syracuse, Italy.
Plemmirio is a marine protected area along Sicily's eastern coast, featuring underwater caves, rocky cliffs, and extensive seagrass meadows. The reserve spans across a large area and provides different habitats for marine life to thrive.
The protection area was established in 2004 by Italian authorities to preserve marine diversity and ecological balance. It was divided into three zones to allow different levels of use and conservation.
Local fishermen still use traditional methods in the reserve, keeping alive ways of fishing that have been passed down through generations. This practice is a living reminder of how people along the coast have worked with the sea for centuries.
The area has several spots where you can enter the water from shore, with wooden platforms installed during warmer months for easier access. Diving requires authorization from the reserve management.
The reserve is home to a rare dwarf palm species, found nowhere else wild in Europe, growing among Mediterranean shrubs in these protected waters. This plant is a living remnant from earlier climate periods.
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