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THE "TAVOLARA" AND "PUNTA CODA CAVALLO"
MARINE PRESERVE
The Ministry of the Environment established the Marine Preserve with a decree (12.12.97), according to the 979/82 law.
The decree sets the perimeter of three areas, each with a different protection level, and it provides that the Managing Agency be entrusted to a consortium of the three coastal communes: Olbia, Loiri Porto San Paolo and San Teodoro.
After two years, only the buoys that mark off the "A" area (total reserve) have been set up, whereas the request from the communes to revise the perimeters and other parts of the decree has actually blocked the enforcenment of conservation laws.
A consultative reserve committee has been instituted. For the first time, the decree provides that guided divings can be carried out also in the "A" area by companies authorised by the Managing Agency.
All the islands are in the town limits of Olbia and approximately 20 persons live on the island of Tavolara.
Summer tourism moves within the orbit of the islands and the reserve area, with a vast coastal territory; during the peak season more than 500 boats sail daily in the reserve area.
One of the main problems regarding the marine preserve's managament is due to the fact that it is a harbour area, and there are many boats that moor during the summer.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE "TAVOLARA" AND "PUNTA CODA CAVALLO"
MARINE PRESERVE
Reference Law: n.979 (31.12.1982)
Institution: D.M. 12.12.1997 (GU n.47 -26.02.1998)
Province: Sassari, Nuoro
Communes: Olbia, Loiri Porto San Paolo, San Teodoro
Surface: approximately 15,091 hectares, only sea
Reserve Committee: instituted with D.M.12.05.1998
Managing Agency: the 3 Communes involved have decided to associate in order to run the marine preserve.
