On 30 September 2026 the Italian Government published a decree in the Gazzetta Ufficiale that creates eight fresh marine components of the Natura 2000 network. The measure, issued under decree n. 269 on 1 September 2026, designates six Siti di Importanza Comunitaria (SIC) and two Zone di Protezione Speciale (ZPS) in waters that lie beyond the national territorial limit but remain inside the national Zona di Protezione Ecologica (ZPE). This step pushes the protected portion of Italy’s high-sea environment to 31 % of the total ZPE, positioning the country ahead of the European Union’s 30 % target for 2030.
New offshore Natura 2000 sites and their main characteristics
The eight newly defined areas are scattered across the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas and the waters surrounding Sardinia, Sicily and Calabria. Each site presents a distinct geological or ecological profile:
Banco di Santa Lucia (off Livorno)
This underwater bank marks the first SIC in the Ligurian-Tyrrhenian transition zone, hosting rich benthic communities and serving as a feeding ground for several pelagic fish species.
Ulisse-Doria-Janua submarine mountains
Located between the northern Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas, this complex of seamounts creates a mosaic of habitats, including extensive coralligenous formations and localized gas emission sites.
North part of the Baronie submarine mountain (eastern Sardinia)
The area protects deep-sea ecosystems that support a variety of invertebrates and act as a migratory corridor for marine turtles.
Sisifo-Tiro-Enarete submarine mountains (northern Sicily)
One of the most prominent ZPS in the archipelago, this chain of undersea peaks harbors rare abyssal habitats and is a key nesting and foraging zone for several seabird species.
Paola submarine ridge (western Calabria)
This ridge extends the protective net along the Calabrian coast, safeguarding habitats that are crucial for the life cycle of deep-water fishes.
Central Tyrrhenian area for Caretta caretta protection
Spanning waters between Sardinia, Campania and Sicily, this expansive SIC focuses on the conservation of the loggerhead turtle, a species listed under the EU Habitat Directive.
Mare Sinis Iglesiente (western Sardinia)
The site includes coastal and offshore zones with significant macroalgal beds that provide shelter for juvenile fish and seabirds.
Mare Nurra (north-west Sardinia)
Characterized by steep slopes and complex substrate, this area supports diverse benthic communities and contributes to the
Why these sites matter for Italy and the EU
All selected zones share two overarching conservation goals: preserving the endangered Caretta caretta turtle and protecting deep-sea habitats that host unique coral-rich structures and natural gas seeps. The inclusion of offshore environments also addresses a historic gap in marine protection, which traditionally focused on coastal waters. By extending safeguards to high-sea locations, Italy strengthens the resilience of its marine biodiversity against threats such as over-fishing, climate change and illegal dumping.
Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto emphasized that the expansion of the Natura 2000 network “enriches our national heritage and provides concrete tools to protect the high seas.” His statement underscores the political will to meet the European Biodiversity Strategy’s ambition of 30 % protected marine area by 2030, a milestone that Italy now exceeds.
Looking ahead
The newly established sites are expected to become focal points for scientific research, sustainable tourism and collaborative management between regional authorities and conservation NGOs. Their protection status will also enable stricter monitoring of fishing activities and better enforcement of marine spatial planning regulations within the ZPE. As implementation progresses, the Italian marine environment will serve as a living laboratory for how high-sea conservation can coexist with economic interests in the Mediterranean.
