If you planned to visit the Achziv Marine Nature Reserve, which was launched at the beginning of last month, you will find many special animals that can hardly be seen elsewhere on the shores of Israel.
On the occasion of the opening of the reserve, we spoke with Eyal Miller, Western Galilee Sea Regional Inspector at the Nature and Parks Authority, who detailed exactly what types of rare animals can be seen in the nature reserve. "You have to start with the fact that this is a protected area in terms of fishing, so you can see very large fish in it compared to the fish you see outside the reserve. It has very large stingrays and lobsters that reach a very significant size, between 30 and 40 centimeters," he said.
From a bat at Achziv Marine Nature Reserve, photo: Omri Yosef-Omsi - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
But these are not the only animals found there, but also large animals, which take advantage of the reserve as a protected place where they can stay, such as sharks, seals and sea turtles, which come to the reserve in large numbers. "Every March, two species of sharks come to the reserve, a lark shark and a fin shark, as well as sea turtles, which come closer and closer to the shore in the reserve and even lay eggs on the beach," Miller says.
He also noted that seals come to the reserve quite a few times, and not the famous Juliet: "It should be mentioned that in the 19th century there was a pack of seals, all of which have been hunted ever since. We are preparing the place so that it will be comfortable for seals, and are also considering cleaning a large cave in the reserve so that it will be a resting place that will attract the seal. Beyond that, there is a migration of lobsters who come to the reserve and rest there, who sometimes come here in large quantities."
Zaharon Dor in the reserve, photo: Omri Yosef-Omsi - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
One of the greatest difficulties in the reserve is not directly related to the many animals found there, but to us humans. Many fishermen come to the reserve to fish there, which has led to the need for constant activity to prevent fishermen from fishing in the area. "There are a lot of significant fish in the reserve, such as rock grouper, Alexandrian grouper, red prickly, spoonbill and other fish species that reach significant sizes in the reserve. In fact, anyone who dives in the reserve and the other parts of the Mediterranean coast next to it will see the big difference between the reserve where there are lots of fish and the area outside the reserve."
The special reality of Achziv Reserve is also reflected in the large number of diving clubs it has, four clubs – a significant number and much larger than the number of swimming clubs elsewhere in the country. "In the reserve, you can snorkel and go deep into the water with a kayak, all without worrying about being run over by fishing boats or bumping into nets and hooks that fishermen leave in the sea elsewhere outside the reserve," Miller concluded.
Achziv Sea Nature Reserve, Photo: Ziv Nadar - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
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