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Ilhéus das Cabras
Protected Area of Resources Management
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With about 112 hectares, this coastal marine area is located south of Terceira island and encompasses the underwater volcano of Ilhéus das Cabras (islets).
It presents semi-submerged caves, boulders and pebbles’ deposits, sandy seabed and rocky reefs associated with high biodiversity of marine life.
The Gruta dos Ratões (cave), on the north coast of the western islet, distinguishes by being one of the few places in the Azores where there are mass concentrations of reproductive Common Eagle Ray (Myliobatis aquila). Many other species of fish, such as Swallowtail Seaperch (Anthias anthias), White Seabream (Diplodus sargus), Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), Yellowmouth Barracuda (Sphyraena viridensis) and Longfin Yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana), and other vertebrates and marine invertebrates can also be seen.
This area integrates the Ilhéu das Cabras Special Protection Area (SPA) within the Natura 2000 network, is classified as a geosite of the Azores UNESCO Global Geopark, and constitutes an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) of the BirdLife International organization.